NASHVILLE – Titans quarterback Cam Ward learned three things during his rookie season.
"First thing I learned," Ward said, "is get your helmet down on a quarterback sneak, or they'll pop your ass."
Ward said he also found out quarterbacks can throw late back the across the middle in the NFL, along with "you have to really love the game to play (in the NFL)."
One day after suffering a right shoulder injury in the season finale at Jacksonville, Ward also learned his injury perhaps isn't as bad as some initially feared, while acknowledging some things remain uncertain.
"I don't know that for sure," Ward responded when asked about potential surgery. "If that's the case we're going to do what I need to do, but I don't think that's the case right now."
Ward said "there is relief" when asked about early examinations on the shoulder while saying he's willing to do whatever is asked of him by the training staff.
"They're going to get it right," Ward said of his shoulder. "(And) continue to walk me through the process to what I need to do to get better, and get back on the field.
"(I need to) really just heal, talk to the trainers, probably have some rehabbing, and then just continue to try and get stronger on my shoulder and try and get ready for next year."
Ward, who started all 17 games for the Titans in 2025, played every snap before suffering the right shoulder injury in the first quarter in Sunday's season finale at the Jaguars.
Ward finished the season completing 323-of-540 passes for 3,169 yards, 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions, with a passer rating of 80.3. Ward also rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns.
On 540 passing attempts in 2025, Ward threw seven interceptions. His 1.3 interception percentage stands as the best single-season mark in franchise history by all qualifying quarterbacks. He broke Ryan Tannehill's franchise record of 1.5 percent in 2020. Over the final nine games of the season, Ward threw only one interception.
Ward's 540 attempts in 2025 were more than every quarterback in franchise history in a season other than Warren Moon, who had 655 attempts in 1991 and 584 attempts in 1990.
Ward said he hasn't been told a timetable on how long it will take his shoulder to heal, or how long he'll have to rehab.
"How long? There hasn't been a time limit yet, but it's a good thing it's the offseason," Ward said. "I've got a couple of months."
Ward said the experience of his rookie season gives him more confidence moving forward.
"I know I am going to have success," he said. "(Right now it's about) getting healthy on my shoulder, and doing all the little things I need to do to become a better player next year."
