The Tennessee Titans held their fifth open training camp practice on Wednesday, and rookie quarterback Cameron Ward did not sugarcoat his comments when asked for his opinion on the offense through the first week of camp.
“I just think we are very mid right now, Ward said, per Jim Wyatt, senior writer and editor for Titans.com.
“From my position, to up front (offensive line), to the receiver position. But at the end of the day, it all starts with me. I just don’t think we are where we need to be, but we have a little bit of time. Every day, we get better as a whole. We are a young team, but that is no excuse; at the end of the day, we have to come with the right mindset every day and come to work.”
Blunt Self-Critique from Ward Sets the Tone Early
For the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to call his unit “mid” — then follow it up by placing the blame on himself — gives a glimpse into the confident but accountable leadership style that has helped Ward earn early respect in Tennessee.
According to ESPN’s Turron Davenport, who has had boots on the ground throughout the first week of Titans training camp, “Ward was intercepted by cornerback Roger McCreary on Wednesday. The interception came via a tipped pass from linebacker Cody Barton. Ward was intercepted three times on Tuesday, bringing his total to four over the past two practices. While not all of them were his fault, Ward said he has to play better.”
Practice Mistakes Stack Up, but Titans Embrace Ward’s Leadership
Although the past two practices weren’t Ward’s best since joining his new team, it’s clear that Ward is meeting the challenge of correcting his early mistakes head-on as a first-year player, prioritizing consistent improvement one practice at a time.
“I just think we just gotta get better at the little things — especially myself,” Ward said post-practice. “With the quick game and the protections, but we all got a lot of stuff to continue to get better at, and I’m excited for it.”
Wednesday marked the second straight day of full-padded practice for the Titans. Ward stayed after the session to get in extra throws with his receivers — something he’s done regularly during his first NFL training camp, according to Wyatt.
“For Ward, it’s all about getting better and dealing with the ups and downs,” Wyatt said.
Titans head coach Brian Callahan also praised Ward’s mindset, noting that his ability to process mistakes and grow from them is what coaches look for in a young quarterback expected to lead a franchise in their first year.
“I feel great about how he will bounce back. It’s just sort of how he’s wired,” Callahan said before Wednesday’s practice. “Everything about his mental makeup and how he operates when he makes mistakes — it’s everything you want to see from a coaching perspective. So, I feel really good about how he will respond to any negativity in general.”
The Titans will have their next open practice on Saturday at 8 a.m., where all eyes will once again be on Ward’s continued development as the 2025 regular season approaches.
