How No. 1 draft pick Cam Ward fared in NFL debut…
TAMPA, Fla. — Cam Ward’s professional debut was stable, if unspectacular.
The first total pick in this yr’s NFL draft accomplished 5 of eight passes for 67 yards, but more importantly was composed and regarded comfy working Tennessee’s offense in the Titans’ 29-7 preseason-opening loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday night time.
Two days after working against the Bucs protection in a joint apply at Tampa Bay’s training facility, Ward performed two offensive sequence, including an spectacular second-quarter landing drive that gave the Titans a glimpse of what the franchise is counting on to be a vibrant future with him at quarterback.
The 6-foot-2, 219-pound rookie accomplished three passes to Calvin Ridley to account for all but 15 yards on the 11-play, 65-yard TD drive Tony Pollard completed with a 1-yard scoring run.
That got here after the Tennessee offense spent more than 14 minutes of the opening quarter on the sideline while Tampa Bay was building a 10-0 lead and a whopping 143-5 benefit in whole yardage while working 22 performs to Tennessee’s 3.
“I thought Cam played well, the two series that he got,” Titans second-year coach Brian Callahan said. (*1*)
Ward felt good about the abbreviated debut.
“It was a lot guys first time playing together, but it felt good to come up with points,” after failing to transfer the ball on the Titans’ first possession,” the rookie said.
“I wanted to go out for a third (series) … but Coach Callahan has a plan for us,” Ward conceded. ”We’ll stick to his plan.”
Cam Ward celebrates after main the Titans to a second quarter landing in their 29-7 preseason highway loss to the Buccaneers on Aug. 9, 2025. Getty Images
Ward started his crew’s only scoring drive with a 27-yard completion over the center to a wide-open Ridley and later led his goal cutting across the center again with a good throw for a 13-yard gain into Tampa Bay territory.
The rookie bought away with his worst throw of the night time when Bucs cornerback Josh Hayes made a good adjustment on a sideline throw supposed for receiver Elic Ayomanor but was unable to grasp on to the ball for an interception.
Ward, who had no turnovers and was not sacked, left the sport after getting the Titans into the end zone.
Backup Brandon Allen and third-stringer Tim Boyle, who threw an interception that was returned for a late landing, shared enjoying time the remaining of the way in which.
Cam Ward throws a move during the Titans’ preseason highway loss to the Buccaneers. Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
With Baker Mayfield and the remaining of Tampa Bay’s regulars either given the night time off or enjoying sparingly, Kyle Trask began at quarterback for the Bucs.
While he’s listed No. 2 on the depth chart behind Mayfield, the crew has signed 32-year-old Teddy Bridgewater as potential insurance coverage for the four-time defending NFC South champions.
Trask, who’s thrown just 11 regular-season passes since coming into the NFL as a second-round draft pick in 2021, led the crew to Sean Tucker’s 2-yard TD run and two discipline objectives in the first half.
He accomplished 12 of 16 passes for 129 yards without an interception before being changed by rookie free agent Connor Bazelak.
“I thought he played very well. He made some timely throws down the field. He was poised in the pocket,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles said. “Practice wasn’t as sharp the past week, but he played well in the game.”
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