ATLANTA ― Cam Ward took to the field for the Tennessee Titans in his second preseason game on Aug. 15 against the Atlanta Falcons.

To keep up with the occasion, The Tennessean charted and graded Ward’s throws and provided analysis on what his plays meant for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and his budding future with the Titans.

Ward, 23, has been the Titans’ unquestioned starter since the start of training camp, and his status both on the unofficial depth chart and the division reps in preseason games and joint practices have reflected that. Titans coach Brian Callahan said the expectation is for Ward to play one or two series, as was the case in the preseason opener when Ward led the offense for two drives, completing five passes and leading to one touchdown.

The Titans face the Falcons (6 p.m. CT, WKRN-2 and NFL Network) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium after a week wherein the two teams matched up for a pair of joint practices. Ward and the Titans struggled on Day 1 of practices against Atlanta, but rebounded nicely for a stronger performance on Day 2.

Follow along below for live updates and analysis of Ward’s second preseason performance.

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Let’s call it a C+ day for Ward. He came out throwing deep, a different look than what the Titans had been practicing throughout the last few weeks. He looked good throwing downfield too, buying time with his feet to get Elic Ayomanor open on a crossing route and tossing a beautiful dime to Van Jefferson that, were it not for a drop, would’ve been another long gain.

But the drives were diminishing returns from there. He tried pushing balls into tight windows and just couldn’t connect often enough. Penalties had him behind the sticks, and unlike in Week 1 of the preseason, he wasn’t able to overcome those bad situations. No turnovers and no major mental mistakes, but not enough positive to justify having Ward out there for three series behind an O-line that featured three backups at certain points.

Ward is the Titans’ starting quarterback. He’s backed up by veteran Brandon Allen with third-stringer Trevor Siemian also on roster. Siemian was added earlier in the week to replace Tim Boyle, who was released after struggling in the preseason opener. Will Levis, who was the Titans’ starting quarterback in 2024, is on injured reserve after electing to have season-ending shoulder surgery.

Brandon Allen, the Titans’ backup QB, is coming into the game, seemingly signaling an end to the evening for Ward.

Ward surprisingly is coming back out for series number three, but he’s playing without his starting left tackle. Oli Udoh is playing in Moore’s stead. Ward threw errant and downfield on first down, setting up a second and long completion to Bryce Oliver for a medium gain.

Ward tried to throw up the seam to Ayomanor on third down, but overthrew his fellow rookie by a small margin and led to another three-and-out and punt. Ward is now 2-for-7 for 42 yards. It appears the stat book has taken away his completion on the second series and instead ruled it as a backwards pass.

Through two series, Ward is 2-for-5 passing with 37 yards. He’s been tasked with converting two long third downs and failed both times. His best throw of the day was a deep bomb to Van Jefferson that the veteran dropped, a deep corner route that Ward threaded over multiple defenders to put directly in Jefferson’s basket.

Ward and the offense are coming back out for a second series, starting from around the 10-yard line again. He’s got a similar personnel package around him. Ward threw on second down, but it was a play without left tackle Dan Moore Jr., on the field, so the Titans kept things safe and threw a little swing pass to Elic Ayomanor, who pushed forward for just two yards. That play ended the first quarter.

JC Latham was flagged for a false start, backing the third down up even farther to set up another third-and-13, Ward’s second in as many series. Ward threw off target trying to find Dike, with a low throw over the middle in between two defenders falling to the turf safely for a three-and-out, forcing Johnny Hekker to punt from his own end zone.

A pick-six from Titans safety Kendell Brooks means the defense is going back-to-back drives here rather than getting Ward out. It’s possible that this’ll be the second-straight preseason game where Ward and the first-team offense only get one series in the first quarter.

Ward starts with receivers Van Jefferson, Elic Ayomanor and Chim Dike from his own 6-yard line. Julius Chestnut carries up the middle on his first snap for a 4-yard gain. On second down, Ward was flushed out of the pocket and kept his composure. With his eyes downfield, he found Ayomanor on a crossing route for a first down. Ayomanor had space to run and got the ball down near midfield.

On a second and short two plays later, Ward aired out way deep and threw the ball out of bounds, but the Titans were flagged for holding to negate the play and set up a second-and-13. Ward put a ball on the money for Jefferson deep for what would’ve been a first down over multiple defenders, but Jefferson dropped to set up the long third down. Ward wasn’t able to complete a sideways screen targeted at Dike, and forced the Titans to punt.

Ward is playing in this game, along with many of the Titans’ offensive starters. Wide receivers Tyler Lockett and Calvin Ridley won’t play in this one, however. So Ward will get the opportunity to throw to some of his younger targets.

Cam Ward bio

The Titans drafted Ward with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, selecting him over such other options as WR/DB Travis Hunter and edge rusher Abdul Carter. Ward replaces Will Levis as the Titans’ starting quarterback for 2025 and is the next step in the lineage of high-drafted Titans quarterbacks that also includes Vince Young, Jake Locker and Marcus Mariota. Ward spent his college years at three schools: University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, an FCS school, Washington State and Miami. He finished college as the Division I all-time leader in touchdown passes thrown and won the Davey O’Brien Award in 2024, given to the top quarterback in college football.

Preseason

Saturday, Aug. 9, 6:30 p.m. at Tampa Bay Friday, Aug. 15, 6 p.m. at Atlanta (TV: NFL Network)Friday, Aug. 22, 7 p.m. at Minnesota (TV: CBS)

Regular Season

Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 7, 3:05 p.m. at Denver (TV: FOX)Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 14, noon vs. Los Angeles (TV: CBS)Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 21, noon vs. Indianapolis (TV: CBS)Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 28, noon at Houston (TV: CBS)Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 5, 3:05 p.m. at Arizona (TV: CBS)Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 12, 3:05 p.m. at Las Vegas (TV: FOX)Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 19, noon vs. New England (TV: CBS)Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 26, 3:25 p.m. at Indianapolis (TV: CBS)Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 2, noon vs. Los Angeles (TV: CBS)Week 10: Off Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 16, noon vs. Houston (TV: FOX)Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 23, noon vs. Seattle (TV:  FOX) Week 13: Sunday, Nov. 30, noon vs. Jacksonville (TV: CBS)Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 17, noon at Cleveland (TV: FOX)Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 14, 3:25 p.m. at San Francisco (TV: FOX)Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 21, noon vs. Kansas City (TV: CBS)Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 28, noon vs. New Orleans (TV: CBS)Week 18: Time, date TBD (flex game) at Jacksonville (TV: TBD)

Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at  nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X @nicksuss. Subscribe to the Talkin’ Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.