NASHVILLE – Cam Ward got valuable work during the preseason, when he was the only rookie quarterback to start three games.
Now, the challenge is bigger for Ward and the Titans – the regular season opener in Denver is up next.
In time, Ward will have to prove himself.
Up to this point, he hopes he's proven this to his teammates:
"I just hope I show them that I'm about them, I'm about those guys in the locker room," Ward said. "That I'm willing to do anything to win. We were a 3-14 team last year, so we've got nothing to lose, everything to prove to ourselves. I'm ready for opportunity every week. The NFL, it's a place that you want to play here, it's the 1% of the world. Everybody in that locker room when it comes to Week 1 when we play Denver, we're going to try and go out there and get a win."
In three preseason games, Ward completed 10-of-19 passes for 145 yards, with a 77.9 passer rating and a 52.6 completion percentage.
On Friday night, Ward engineered a 13-play, 90-yard touchdown drive in the team's preseason finale against the Vikings. In the preseason opener in Tampa back on August 9, he guided an 11-play, 65-yard drive that produced a touchdown.
Coach Brian Callahan knows what awaits Ward, and the Titans, in Denver in Week One.
"First and foremost, very, very stiff test right out the gate with the defense in Denver," Callahan said. "Very talented, very well-coached, good football team. Good test for our team in general. So yeah, it's going to be a lot different than a preseason game, certainly. That's part of what practice is for, is to try to get as close to that preparation as possible. But yeah, it's going to be the first time against a really good football team that he's going play the entirety of the game. And there's going to be learning moments through the course of the whole process, but I think he's up to the task.
"We're ready for that challenge and looking forward to it. But yeah, it's definitely— there is no correlation. I don't think in my mind from preseason play to your regular season, there is no ability to make any prediction of what that's going to look like very pleased with where we're at and what we've done. But certainly the Denver Broncos presented an entirely different challenge in Week One."
The Titans still have two weeks to prepare for the Broncos, and the start of the 2025 season.
In the coming days, the Titans will trim their roster to 53 players by the NFL's deadline on Tuesday.
At the same time, Ward will get focused, and ready for what's next.
He's confident in himself, and the team.
And, he's ready to prove it.
"I think the biggest thing is trying to keep guys healthy going into Week 1, and then also making sure guys have confidence in what they're doing," he said. "Whether it's defensively, offensively, scheme-wise. And then, I'm real confident in our group. Both sides of the ball, we can score the ball. I think at a high pace if we need to. In defense, I know we can get a stop whenever we need to. So, both sides of ball, I think will be ready to play Week 1.
"I'm trying to prove myself to my teammates every time I step on the field. That's a big reason why I do it, for the people in the building. And so, I just think we're focused on the next play mentality. And then we're also focused on Week 1. But I know what I'm capable of doing on the football field. Coach (Brian) Callahan knows that. So, I'm excited. He's going to put the ball in my hand. I'm glad he's doing it."
