Cam Ward’s NFL Debut Headlines Tennessee Titans vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers Preseason Opener

The wait is finally over. Football is back. 

And for Tennessee Titans fans, Cam Ward is here. 

The excitement is real. At open practices last week, Ward was the player Titans fans wanted to see the most. Ward performed well in those practices, making fans even more excited. 

However, more recently, things have not been as pretty for him or the Titans. According to The Tennessean, practice on Sunday, August 3, ended with head coach Brian Callahan berating his offense for multiple self-inflicted errors and overall inconsistent play, especially from Ward. 

Tensions were also high between players during the practice, as wide receiver Mason Kinsey and cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. got into a shoving match. 

Everything from preseason practices and games needs to be taken with a grain of salt, especially with a rookie QB, so there is no need to panic…yet. 

This week, the Titans will continue to practice and prepare for their first preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday, August 9. They will have a joint practice with the Bucs on Thursday, just two days before the game. This is an excellent opportunity for the teams to feel each other out and for coaches to explore their lineups and playbooks ahead of the matchup on Saturday. 

The game will be Cam Ward’s first time playing against an NFL defense in a (somewhat) competitive atmosphere. According to the Fox Sports defense rankings at the end of last season, the Bucs had the 18th best defense in the NFL. Their rushing defense was fourth, but their passing defense was fourth-worst. They did draft exciting rookie corner Benjamin Morrison from Notre Dame, but it still looks like a favorable matchup for Ward to show off, especially given the relatively low stakes of a preseason game. 

Something to look out for is Ward’s rapport with Calvin Ridley. According to sportingnews.com,  Ward and Ridley seem to already have a connection. It remains to be seen how much the starters will play, but it is something to keep an eye on. 

Whatever the score is on Saturday, it will not affect the Titans’ season. However, for Cam Ward, every snap is a chance to prove he belongs in the NFL. It may just be the preseason, but the time to impress is now.