No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward has thrown his first touchdown, and it was an impressive play — helping the Titans build a 13-10 lead over the Rams at halftime.
Ward broke plenty of rules when he was pressured on third-and-goal, running to his right to avoid the rush before firing across his body to hit receiver Elic Ayomanor in the end zone for what was officially a 9-yard touchdown.
Ayomanor had just made an impressive sideline catch, putting the ball against his helmet to secure it to put the Titans in position to score.
Then Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was picked off on the first play of the ensuing drive, setting the Titans up to score again before halftime. Joey Slye nailed the 37-yard field goal to give the Titans 10 points in the last minute of the half and put the club ahead.
Tennessee’s defense has made it tough for Los Angeles, as the visitors have just six first downs and are 2-of-6 on third down. While Puka Nacua rushed for a 45-yard touchdown, the Rams had a big opportunity to get in the end zone again with first-and-goal at the 3-yard line in the second quarter. But after three incomplete passes to Davante Adams, the Rams had to settle for a 21-yard field goal.
Stafford is 9-of-16 for 107 yards with an interception. Adams has two catches for 39 yards on eight targets. Nacua has caught all four of his targets for 31 yards.
The Rams will be without cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon for the rest of the game, as he’s been ruled out with a shoulder injury. Edge rusher Jared Verse was also taken off the field late in the second quarter to be examined.
On the other side, Ward is 10-of-17 passing for 123 yards with a TD. Tony Pollard has 53 yards on 12 carries.
The Rams will receive the second-half kickoff.
The Rams have taken an early lead over the Titans.
Receiver Puka Nacua ran in a 45-yard touchdown to give Los Angeles a 7-0 advantage.
The Rams elected to go for it on fourth-and-1 in Tennessee territory and were rewarded for it. Nacua took a handoff on a jet sweep and while it initially looked like he would have a tough time getting the yard he needed, Nacua broke through the layer of defense and darted down the sideline for the second rushing touchdown of his career.
Nacua also bobbled the handoff from Stafford, but was able to secure it before risking a turnover.
The touchdown capped a six-play, 72-yard drive.
There are 10 active quarterbacks who were selected with the first overall pick in their respective drafts and four of Week 2’s games feature matchups between eight of them.
Jared Goff and the Lions will host Caleb Williams and the Bears in one of the three games in the early window that fall into this category. It’s the third time they’ve squared off with Goff leading the Lions to wins in both of last year’s matchups between the NFC North rivals.
Cam Ward, who became the latest member of the club this April, will be at home against Matthew Stafford. The Rams quarterback was drafted in 2009, which makes him the longest-tenured member of the group. The 1 p.m. ET slate also features Joe Burrow’s Bengals in Jacksonville against Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars.
At 4:05 p.m. ET, Kyler Murray and the Cardinals will host Bryce Young and the Panthers. Young led Carolina to a 36-30 overtime win over the Cardinals last season.
Per NBC Sports, it’s the most matchups between first overall picks in a single week.
With Jameis Winston on the bench for the Giants, Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is the only other first overall pick set to start this week. He’ll face another first-round pick in Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud and there are 12 total games this week featuring a pair of first-round picks starting at quarterback. That’s also a record for a single week.
The 49ers went down to the wire before determining left tackle Trent Williams’ status for Sunday’s game against the Saints.
Williams was listed as questionable because of a knee injury and the team put him through a workout that ended about two hours before the scheduled kickoff at the Superdome. That workout went well and Williams is in the lineup for Week 2.
Wide receiver Jauan Jennings was also listed as questionable after hurting his shoulder in the opener. Word on Sunday morning was that he would play and he is also active for the 49ers
49ers at Saints
49ers: QB Brock Purdy, OL Drew Moss, OL Austen Pleasants, LB Nick Martin, DT Jordan Jefferson, WR Jordan Watkins, RB Jordan James
Saints: OL Trevor Penning, DE Chase Young, DE Jonathan Bullard, DT Khristian Boyd, CB Rejzohn Wright, WR Trey Palmer, G Xavier Truss,
Browns at Ravens
Browns: T Jack Conklin, QB Shedeur Sanders, RB Raheim Sanders, DT Mike Hall Jr., G Zak Zinter
Ravens: CB Jaire Alexander, RB Keaton Mitchell, FB Patrick Ricard, TE Isaiah Likely, T Carson Vinson, LB David Ojabo
Jaguars at Bengals
Jaguars: CB Montaric Brown, RB Cody Schrader, OL Wyatt Milum, DL Danny Striggow, DL B.J. Green II, DT Khalen Saunders
Bengals: CB Marco Wilson, WR Jermaine Burton, TE Cam Grandy, DT McKinnley Jackson, DT Howard Cross III
Giants at Cowboys
Giants: QB Jameis Winston, LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, OL Evan Neal OT Andrew Thomas, TE Thomas Fidone II, WR Xavier Gipson, DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches
Cowboys: DT Mazi Smith, RB Jaydon Blue, CB DaRon Bland, LB Shemar James, T Ajani Cornelius, T Hakeem Adeniji, T Trevor Keegan
Bears at Lions
Bears: CB Kyler Gordon, DT Shemar Turner, T Ozzy Trapilo, OL Kiran Amegadjie, WR Jahdae Walker, QB Case Keenum
Lions: RB Sione Vaki, LB Trevor Nowaske, EDGE Tyrus Wheat, DL Chris Smith, DL Tyler Lacy, S Thomas Harper.
Patriots at Dolphins
Patriots: CB Christian Gonzalez, QB Tommy DeVito, DT Eric Gregory, T Caedan Wallace, WR Efton Chism, DE Keion White
Dolphins: RB Jaylen Wright, QB Quinn Ewers, CB Ethan Bonner, CB Storm Duck, TE Darren Waller, WR Tahj Washington, NT Benito Jones
Bills at Jets
Bills: WR Curtis Samuel, OL Chase Lundt, DE Landon Jackson, DT Ed Oliver, LB Shaq Thompson, CB Taron Johnson, S Jordan Hancock
Jets: TE Jelani Woods, T Esa Pole, DE Tyler Baron, WR Josh Reynolds, DT Jay Tufele, RB Kene Nwangwu
Seahawks at Steelers
Seahawks: S Nick Emmanwori, QB Jalen Milroe, CB Devon Witherspoon, LB Jared Ivey, LB Connor O’Toole, OL Mason Richman, TE Nick Kallerup
Steelers: CB Joey Porter Jr., S DeShon Elliott, G Max Scharping, G Andrus Peat, DE Esezi Otomewo, DT Derrick Harmon
Rams at Titans
Rams: QB Stetson Bennett, OL D.J. Humphries, G Steve Avila, TE Colby Parkinson, EDGE Desjuan Johnson.
Titans: T JC Latham, NT T’Vondre Sweat, CB Jalyn Armour-Davis, S Kevin Winston Jr., RB Kalel Mullings, CB Samuel Womack III, G Jackson Slater
Both of the Rams’ starting guards came out of Week 1 with sprained ankles that left them week-to-week, but they took different paths over the course of the week.
Right guard Kevin Dotson didn’t practice on Wednesday and then moved from limited to full participation over the last two days. He has no injury designation and is set to play against the Titans.
Left guard Steve Avila did not practice at all this week and is set to miss the game after being listed as doubtful. Rams head coach Sean McVay said on Friday that the team is still working out who would start in Avila’s place.
Tight end Colby Parkinson (shoulder) is also listed as doubtful. Tyler Higbee, Davis Allen, and Terrance Ferguson are the team’s other tight ends.
