NASHVILLE, Tenn. — On Sunday, Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward confirmed his largest indicators of progress but. Certain, the steps got here in yet one more loss, this time a 30-24 defeat to the Seattle Seahawks that dropped the Titans to 1-10, however this season was by no means actually about wins and losses.
Success in 2025 was all the time going to be measured by Ward’s improvement.
The Week 12 loss marked one in all Ward’s finest video games. He accomplished 66.7% of his passes for 256 yards and a landing, and he ran the ball six instances for a career-high 37 yards and a landing — his first speeding rating. There was a confidence that confirmed in how he took command of the sport, particularly on some lengthy drives that spanned over 15 performs on two events. Most significantly, Ward did not flip the ball over.
Titans interim coach Mike McCoy discovered solace in Ward unlocking one other ingredient of his sport. Ward has by no means been mistaken for a real dual-threat quarterback like Lamar Jackson or Michael Vick. Nonetheless, he has all the time been capable of affect the sport by extending performs together with his legs to offer receivers extra time to get open or by making a well timed scramble — like his 14-yard run that picked up a primary down on the second play of the sport towards the Seahawks.
“I feel yesterday he took that subsequent step and made performs together with his toes,” McCoy mentioned Monday. “He was not solely taking what they gave him, however he was taking off and operating. That was the subsequent a part of his progress.”
Even on performs the place Ward solely received 2 or 3 yards, it was a constructive for the subsequent play as a result of it created a extra manageable scenario fairly than being not on time due to a sack. That is how these lengthy drives have been sustained, persevering with to maneuver the chains.
Throughout their Week 10 bye, McCoy frolicked watching different quarterbacks. He targeted on how decisive they have been, whether or not it was by taking off and operating or rapidly discovering the most effective place to throw the soccer. That decisiveness is one thing he implored Ward to play with.
Ward’s speeding landing got here on a play during which he was supposed to offer the ball to Chimere Dike on a jet sweep. He ended up holding it as a result of he noticed the defensive finish crash out. The end result was a 6-yard run punctuated by a somersault from the 2-yard line, touchdown him in the long run zone. Ward had no hesitation in figuring out what to do. It aligned with the well timed decision-making course of McCoy desires.
It confirmed final week when Ward’s time to throw was 2.6 seconds, down from his 2.9-second common. Although Ward’s time to throw towards Seattle was 3.03 seconds, per NFL Subsequent Gen Stats, that was principally as a result of he was fast when maneuvering throughout the pocket to keep away from the go rush and capable of search for receivers.
“I am feeling the pocket getting higher,” Ward mentioned. “Figuring out the place I have to arrange each play, after which additionally having the ability to play on time and have a clock in my head to get the ball to my playmakers or whether or not I have to scramble round.”
Ward confirmed indicators of the playmaking showman he may be all through the Seahawks sport. There have been instances when he was near being sacked however managed to get the ball out to a go catcher to realize beneficial yards. McCoy credited Ward for urgent the road of scrimmage and impacting defenders in protection.
One of the best instance of that was when Ward scrambled to his proper after eluding two go rushers and uncorked a leaping, across-the-body throw to Xavier Restrepo as a defender laid successful on Ward. The 14-yard completion got here on an off-script fashion play. However that wasn’t an accident.
Ward and the receivers work on this model of the scramble drill often after follow. Having spent a season collectively in faculty at Miami, Ward and Restrepo’s chemistry was obvious — leading to Restrepo, making his professional debut after being elevated from the follow squad, having two receptions Sunday.
“It is simply repetition,” Restrepo mentioned. “Day by day after follow, we finish on a kind of. Typically he is a butthead and makes me run it 70 instances forwards and backwards. We’re on the identical web page. I let him know he is the most effective on the earth, and I received him.”
For the season, Ward has now accomplished 222 of his 374 go makes an attempt (59.4%) for two,210 yards and 7 touchdowns to associate with six interceptions. The arrow is trending upward. He has proven battle by main a 15-play, 62-yard drive that culminated with a 1-yard landing go to Dike to drag inside a landing late within the fourth quarter.
That got here on the heels of an 11-play drive that lined 95 yards, ending with a 4-yard landing go to Van Jefferson to tie the sport with simply over a minute left within the 16-13 loss to the Texans the week earlier than.
“Each time he goes on the market, he retains enjoying just a bit bit sooner,” Titans offensive coordinator Nick Holz mentioned. “He is finishing extra passes. Our completion proportion goes up and the ball’s popping out. We’re taking fewer sacks, and all these issues issue into staying on schedule.”
