Daboll to have Ward rely on Robinson on 3rd down

Cam Ward played three series, but Tate was most active on the opening drive, playing 10-of-11 snaps (via NFL Network’s Michael F. Florio). The goose egg looks disappointing, of course, but it is utterly inconsequential. Slightly more concerning has been a hype-free start to Titans camp for the No. 4 overall pick, though he has been lauded for a few highlight plays of late. Emphasis on “a few,” we guess. It’s hard to muster too much concern, but then again, this was always likely to be a bumpy road for the Titans’ revamped offense this season. Tate is a WR3/4 with plenty of upside but “slow start” risk to match.

Ward, who played three series, didn’t offer up many highlights, but he did help author a 95-yard touchdown drive on the Titans’ opening series vs. the 49ers’ backups. Learning a new offensive system as he breaks in a heavily revamped supporting cast, it’s not a surprise tonight was a “growing pains” effort even if it came against the second and third string. If Ward plays in the Titans’ second preseason game, it will be against the defending champion Seahawks.

“The Titans have added a lot of really good pieces who fit what they do,” the executive told Lombardo. “I think Robert Saleh has hired an excellent staff, and I believe in the quarterback. Cam Ward is going to take a jump, and I expect them to be solid enough on defense to win some games.” One of the most erratic, inaccurate quarterbacks in the league in 2025, Ward has worked this offseason with new OC Brian Daboll to improve his lower body mechanics and has reportedly learned how to make more cautious throws when downfield shots are not open. Saleh, for one, has said he’s not concerned with Ward’s 2025 accuracy issues. With the additions of Carnell Tate and Wan’Dale Robinson, Ward will have a vastly improved wideout group with which to work in 2026.

This is a tall task for the shortest wide receiver to ever reach 1,000 yards in a single season. That said, Robinson and new Titans OC Brian Daboll spent the last four seasons together with the Giants, so Robinson is intimately familiar with the offensive scheme, and he added a vertical element to his route tree last year. Titans rookie WR Carnell Tate is his primary target competition and as Arvin notes, “Robinson should find favorable matchups working from the slot.” Robinson finished as the PPR WR14 last season, yet he is being drafted as a borderline WR4/5 in best ball. Even if Robinson ends up being Tate’s sidekick, this looks like a dip worth buying right now.

Titans beat writers last week sounded the alarm on Ward’s inaccuracy during OTA sessions. It’s an extension of major accuracy issues Ward had during his rookie year with the Titans. Ward in 2025 ranked 32nd out of 35 qualifying QBs in completion rate over expected, frequently sailing intermediate and short-area passes over the heads of his pass catchers in a dysfunctional Titans offense. Saleh said as a member of the 49ers coaching staff he saw Brock Purdy miss some passes in offseason practices so he is not worried about Ward’s issues. Purdy in 2025 was the NFL’s second most accurate passer behind Drake Maye.

Gall really dug into Ward’s play and coach Robert Saleh’s qualified responses on the matter. We’ll spare you the details on the latter subject, but it is safe to say that Gall is displeased with both parties. Per Gall, Ward “frequently” overthrew receivers downfield and found it hard to complete passes in the flats, especially checkdowns to the right side of the field. Keep in mind that the Titans are installing a new offense, and Saleh did say that Ward fared well on the unscripted plays, so there is at least something positive here. The Titans retake the field next week for mandatory minicamp. Hopefully, Ward delivers a bounce-back performance then.

Ridley suffered a broken fibula in Week 11 of the 2025 season and missed the remainder of the year. He hadn’t participated in any 7-on-7 or team drills up until this point, making today’s participation a major step in the right direction. Ridley agreed to a restructured deal to stay in Tennessee this offseason. He will tumble to third in the pecking order for targets now that Carnell Tate and Wan’Dale Robinson are both in the fold. That should still allow for the occasional splash play, but fantasy managers should look elsewhere for FLEX options.

Last week, Ward told reporters that he lost 10 pounds this offseason because he wants to play “faster.” The comment rightly caught one astute Rotoworld analyst’s attention. New Titans OC Brian Daboll has incorporated quarterback rushing into his prior offensive schemes, and it sounds like Daboll and Tierney want Ward to run a bit more than he did last year. Tierney has coached under Daboll at every stop since 2017. The key is drawing a line “between being aggressive and being reckless.” Tierney does not want Ward to run as often as his former quarterback, Jaxson Dart, did last year. Dart averaged 6.1 attempts per game. Instead, Tierney hopes Ward might try “to gain that last necessary yard on a third-and-6 scramble,” yet refrain from trying to bowl through a defender, seeking 10 more yards. We should not expect Ward to suddenly become a true dual-threat quarterback, but he should average more than the 9.4 rushing yards per game that he produced as a rookie.

Ward said he hopes the weight loss will improve his durability and allow him to play with a bit more speed in 2026. The 2025 No. 1 overall pick will play next season in an offense led by offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who has taken advantage of his quarterback’s athleticism in the past by incorporating it into the running game. Whether or not Ward, who rushed for just 159 yards in 17 games last season, will see more work as a runner next season is to be determined, but it’s worth noting that Ward did total 1,061 rushing yards in 38 FBS games, per PFF, which factors out yards lost on sacks. Of the 287 rush attempts he saw over that span, 180 of those runs (4.7/gm) came on designed plays. Ward turning into more of a dual-threat quarterback would provide a more solid floor for his fantasy outlook next season after he finished as the QB34 in fantasy points per game as a rookie.

We expect first-round picks to shine in these environs, so this is not necessarily a surprise, but Glennon notes that the same could not be said for the Titans’ last first-round wide receiver, Treylon Burks. Titans QB Cam Ward complimented Tate’s hands and ability to win against man coverage. Fellow WR Wan’Dale Robinson said Tate “had a really good day and was just making some incredible catches.” Tate has a chance to be WR3/FLEX-viable right away.