Cam Ward scoreless in 26-3 beatdown, takes 4 sacks

Ward’s second pass of the game resulted in an interception, but he would settle in to put together his most productive outing of the season. Ward linked up with rookie first-rounder Carnell Tate on multiple long gains and ended the day with four completions of 20-plus yards. The two would connect on a 33-yard pass late in the fourth quarter on a fourth-and-10, and on the next play, Ward would find Wan’Dale Robinson for a three-yard score to cut the Ravens’ lead to 24-18. Ward did a good job at evading pressure in this one. Despite being pressured on 11 dropbacks, per PFF, only one of those resulted in a sack. Ward has been sacked just once over the last two weeks, but will have a tough challenge ahead of him next week when the Titans play host to the Texans. Ward projects as a low-end QB2 next week.

Asked about Ward’s continuing footwork disaster, Saleh said the second-year quarterback “usually starts off good then fades into old habits.” Titans beat writer Terry McCormick then asked Saleh “why if his footwork gets worse as the game goes on, why the offense has had such slow starts. [Saleh] said it has been dropped passes vs. Giants and defense not getting off field vs. Eagles.” Saleh has made a point to shield Ward from all criticism throughout the preseason and through three horrific regular season outings. Ward ranks 20th in accuracy and 29th in EPA per drop back this season. He’s fresh off throwing a game-deciding end zone interception against the lowly Giants in Week 3. Mitchell Trubisky will probably get a couple starts this season if Ward can’t turn things around.

Ward’s gotten off to a slow start in 2026, completing 62.5 percent of his passes for a meager 504 yards and two touchdowns in three games. He has improved his sack rate quite a bit, cutting it from 9.2 percent in 2025 to 5.38 percent so far this year. The Titans backup is Mitch Trubisky. It is probably too soon to give up on Ward, but it doesn’t bode well for his future that Saleh is already being asked the question. Ward will be one of the bottom five quarterbacks in the Week 4 fantasy rankings against the Ravens.

The Titans’ offense looked dead on arrival with 34 yards on their six first-half drives. They opened the game with four consecutive three-and-outs and didn’t get on the board until late in the fourth quarter, when Ward tossed a short touchdown to Wan’Dale Robinson. It looked like Ward was getting in rhythm late in the game, but he ended the contest with a ghastly interception directly into the hands of Jevon Holland, who was standing in the end zone waiting for the ball. Ward took care of the ball until the game-ending throw, but this was a one step forward, two steps back showing from the young passer. That has unfortunately been the case for the better part of the last three weeks. Ward is not on the fantasy radar for Week 4 against the Ravens, and his poor play is making all of the team’s fantasy options largely irrelevant.

Ward’s two scores on the ground doubled his previous career total, though he is now sitting on one passing touchdown through eight quarters. He is at least not turning the ball over, and has taken “just” five sacks. He has been so far unable to heat up his connections with offseason additions Carnell Tate and Wan’Dale Robinson, but he found Elic Ayomanor for two critical gains vs. Philly. Cutting out the negative plays was an absolutely essential first step for Ward, but he has yet to supplement them with big gains or consistent chain-moving. That included botching a Hail Mary in the fourth quarter this afternoon. Ward won’t be much of a superflex option for next week’s road date with the Giants.

Ward also took three sacks for 13 yards. His touchdown was a too little, too late 11-yard strike to Elic Ayomanor with the Titans trailing 23-3 at the 2:42 mark of the fourth quarter. As was the case down the stretch last season, Ward did a good job of avoiding turnovers, but he struggled to generate positive plays of any kind. He was besieged by pressure, but he just wasn’t making anything happen. That could come in time — there’s a new experienced play-caller in Brian Daboll and several new weapons in the skill corps — but this was a highly discouraging start to the year at home vs. a not-exactly-amazing Jets defense. It was certainly confirmation that Ward is on the outside looking in of top-24 status in superflex leagues for the time being. The Eagles are a rough Week 2 matchup, even if the Titans are at home.

Cam Ward’s preseason has been as bad or even worse than his rookie campaign. Ward in last week’s preseason game against Seattle completed eight of his 12 attempts for 69 yards. His average depth of target on completed passes this preseason sits at a meager 1.2. Carnell Tate, meanwhile, has been targeted five times on his 23 preseason routes and does not have a reception to show for it. Daboll has been somewhat defensive this month when asked about Ward’s immense struggles after working on basic fundamentals with the second-year QB in the offseason. Ward, one of the most inaccurate passers in recent NFL history, is unlikely to support more than one fantasy-viable pass catcher in 2026.

Ward would have cleared 100 yards in the box score had TE Gunnar Helm not stepped out of bounds while hauling in a downfield pass during a scramble drill. Ward’s ability to make ridiculous throws off-script remains a plus and a minus. It wasn’t a great game for his connection with rookie Carnell Tate. The duo went 0-of-2 out of five total pass attempts from Ward on the first drive this evening against Seattle.

Davenport penned a lengthy piece detailing how OC Brian Daboll is focused on developing QB Cam Ward’s play on third down, in the red zone and in the two-minute drill. This is pretty straightforward. Those are all high-leverage situations, so harping on Ward’s performance there makes sense. Robinson played on all three drives in the Titans’ first preseason game while veteran Calvin Ridley was on the field for one. Rookie WR Carnell Tate was on the field for the first and third drives. A featured role on third downs could help Robinson return FLEX value — he’s certainly being paid like he is going to be featured.

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.