As No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward is quickly finding out, one of the only constants in the NFL is change.
After just three games this season, Titans head coach Brian Callahan has elected to give up play-calling duties to quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree.
Hardegree last called plays for the Raiders in 2023 when he served as the team’s interim offensive coordinator. He was on Tennessee’s staff last year as QBs coach.
On Wednesday, Ward told reporters in his press conference that he has a “great” relationship with Hardegree, going back to the pre-draft process.
“I meet with him every day,” Ward said. “He knows where my mind is and how I feel space on the field. And I just think he’s going to be a good addition for us.”
Through three games, the Titans rank No. 28 in points and No. 31 in total yards. Ward has completed 54.5 percent of his passes for 506 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He’s also been sacked a league-high 15 times.
But despite Callahan’s change, Ward said he doesn’t think there’s been a play-calling issue.
“I think the biggest thing is that coach [Callahan] just has so much to deal with,” Ward said. “And it’s probably hard for him to give up play-calling — he’s one of the best play-callers out there. But he has a lot of important decision to make for us to win games.
“And I just think him giving that up to Bo right now, he thinks it’s best for us, I think it’s best for us as well. So, whatever coach agrees with, I’m gonna go with.”
The Titans haven’t publicly noted whether or not Hardegree is going to be in the coach’s box or on the field, but Ward doesn’t think it will make too much of a difference.
“Whatever the best view he needs to call the best plays for us,” Ward said. “[I]f he’s in the box, I’m going to talk to him on the headset after every drive. So, it really won’t change my operation. But I think it’s going to be what’s best for him and best for us to help us score some points.”
We’ll see if the changes help, starting with Sunday’s matchup against the Texans in Houston.
The Texans will have a new defensive back at practice on Wednesday.
According to multiple reports, they have signed Zion Childress to their 53-man roster. Childress was on the Cowboys’ practice squad.
Childress signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent this offseason and returned to the practice squad after being one of the team’s final cuts this summer. He was elevated for two of the team’s first three games and made a tackle on special teams.
The Texans had an opening in their secondary after releasing safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson on Tuesday, so they do not need to make a corresponding move to get Childress on their active roster.
The Texans are letting go of a veteran defender.
According to multiple reports, Houston is releasing safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
Gardner-Johnson, 27, was traded to Houston in March. He started each of the Texans’ first three games, playing 96 percent of defensive snaps. He recorded 15 total tackles.
The move comes a day after Jimmie Ward came off the commissioner’s exempt list — though Ward was placed on the physically unable to perform list.
According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston, Gardner-Johnson’s release comes after there was friction between him and the team behind the scenes. Gardner-Johnson complained about his role, wanted to blitz more, and was critical of his teammates. He also told the Texans that he wanted to be traded.
M.J. Stewart is set to be the next player at the position.
Houston had traded offensive lineman Kenyon Green to Philadelphia as part of the deal for Gardner-Johnson. Coincidentally, Green was also waived on Monday.
At 0-3, the Texans will try to get their first win against the 0-3 Titans on Sunday.
The Eagles claimed returner Xavier Gipson off waivers on Monday, the team announced.
Gipson spent only nine days with the Giants, who claimed him off waivers from the Jets on Sept. 11.
Eagles undrafted rookie wide receiver Darius Cooper injured his shoulder in Sunday’s victory over the Rams. Cooper played six offensive snaps and six on special teams.
The Jets released Gipson following a Week 1 loss to Pittsburgh during which his fumble on a kickoff return helped fuel the Steelers’ come-from-behind win. He was inactive for his only game with the Giants.
He had 68 punt returns and 44 kick returns in 35 career games with the Jets, averaging 8.9 yards on punt returns and 26.0 yards on kickoff returns.
The Eagles waived offensive lineman Kenyon Green in a corresponding move. It marked the third time the Eagles have cut Green since training camp.
They acquired the former first-round pick in a trade with the Texans that sent defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson to Houston.
Texans safety Jimmie Ward is no longer on the Commissioner Exempt list, but he’s not ready to get back on the field.
Ward was placed on the exempt list after being arrested on a domestic violence charge this summer. A grand jury declined to indict Ward last week and he was removed from the exempt list by the NFL on Monday.
Ward was on the physically unable to perform list during training camp because he was recovering from offseason foot surgery. The Texans placed him on that list Monday, so Ward will remain out of practice and ineligible to play in games.
Ward has started 20 games for the Texans over the last two seasons. He had 98 tackles, three interceptions, and a forced fumble in those appearances.
