Titans Rookie QB Cam Ward Struggles NFL Debut vs Broncos

Tennessee Titans' first overall pick Cam Ward had a challenging NFL debut against the Denver Broncos, completing 42.9% of his passes for 112 yards with no touchdowns and six sacks, in a 20-12 loss. Despite the disappointing traditional stats, Titans Head Coach Brian Callahan praised Ward's poise, game management, and ability to operate under pressure, highlighting his adjusted completion percentage at 60% when accounting for drops and throwaways. Ward faced one of the league's best defenses and had multiple drops by his receivers, which negatively impacted his performance. Advanced metrics, however, painted a harsher picture, ranking Ward near the bottom among rookie Week 1 starters since 2000 with a -0.41 Expected Points Added per pass play. Ward did not have any turnover-worthy plays, a positive sign amidst the tough outing, and is expected to develop better chemistry with receivers like Calvin Ridley as the season progresses. Overall, while the debut was rough, there is optimism that Ward will learn and improve in future games.