Cameron Ward Debuts Promisingly in Preseason
The young Tennessee Titans quarterback, Cameron Ward, made his preseason debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday night. This year’s first draft pick showed a promising performance in his first experience in a real game.Ward completed 5 of 8 passes for 67 yards during two offensive series. Although the Titans failed to advance on their first possession, on the next they developed an 11-play, 65-yard drive, culminating in a one-yard touchdown run by Tony Pollard. Titans receiver Calvin Ridley caught three passes for 50 yards during the touchdown drive. Despite a pass interference penalty that left the Titans with first and 20, the offense reacted positively, with Ward connecting with Ridley for 10 and 13 yards on the following plays.“I think the biggest thing was we got to play together in a real game environment,” Ward said after the Titans’ 29-7 loss. “Getting to know the team dynamic and playing together like we did.”
Cameron Ward
Ward’s first connection was with Ridley in the midfield for 27 yards. The offensive line gave Ward enough time to wait for Ridley to get open. Ward arrived at Raymond James Stadium six hours before the start of the game, a habit he maintained since the night games at the University of Miami. To pass the time, he listened to music and watched a movie. Ward was on the field to watch the maintenance crew remove the tarp from the grass, which allowed him to start his pre-game warm-up early. In another aspect of the game, Titans running back Tyjae Spears suffered a high ankle sprain after a 13-yard reception, according to sources. Spears limped off the field and was taken in a cart to the locker room.“I think Cam played well in his two series,” said Titans coach Brian Callahan. “He did what we expected in his first performance, and he will have more opportunities in the future.”
Brian Callahan
