The Tennessee Titans played the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday and came away victorious. However, not everyone played well enough to draw positive attention.
This includes Cam Ward, who finished the night with an up-and-down preseason debut. Following the performance, Bleacher Report named Ward as one of the preseason Week 1 losers. Here is what they had to say.
Cam Ward Named as a Preseason Week 1 Loser
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“If the Tennessee Titans are going to take a step forward as a team in 2026, then they badly need the 2025 No. 1 pick to do the same,” Bleacher Report author Gary Davenport said.
“Cam Ward’s first NFL season was uneven, although he picked up some momentum as the campaign wore on. That momentum was not evident on Thursday night with the San Francisco 49ers.”
“While San Francisco rested its starters in the game, new Titans head coach Robert Saleh chose to play the first team for a few series, and that development from last year’s stretch run was nowhere to be seen.”
“Despite an upgraded receiving corps that includes veteran Wan’Dale Robinson and fourth overall pick Carnell Tate, Ward struggled against San Francisco, completing 5 of 12 passes for 57 yards with a 56.6 passer rating.”
Ward’s Loser Tag Misses Real Context
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While it is safe to say that Ward’s performance wasn’t what fans would have hoped for, and it wasn’t good, it is also safe to say that labeling him a loser among the Week 1 preseason games is a bit unfair. Not only was he labeled a loser for the week, but he was also the first player listed in the category, which typically signals the “biggest” name in that group.
At face value, 5 of 12 doesn’t look good, but when you peel back the curtain, you see that the Titans finished the contest with plenty of throws coming from a congested pocket.
What does this mean?
It means the Titans’ quarterback was under pressure on the majority of his snaps. Despite the congested pocket, he found ways to avoid getting sacked, going down just once, which points to real growth in an area he badly needed to improve.
With that in mind, the Titans have new pieces at wide receiver, and two starters were new on the Titans’ retooled offensive line protecting Ward this season. On top of that, the Titans have a brand-new offensive coordinator, as Brian Daboll is calling the plays for Tennessee’s offense. That means this was Ward’s first meaningful preseason snap in a new scheme that is known to be difficult to pick up quickly.
Taken together, these points suggest this reaction is more of an overreaction than an accurate read on Ward, even if there is some truth buried in Davenport’s criticism.
