Day 2 of Tennessee Titans training camp wasn’t a great one for rookie quarterback Cam Ward.
As was the case on Day 1, Ward mostly stuck to quick checkdown throws and timing passes short of the sticks rather than testing his arm with deep shots and throws into tight windows.
Unlike Day 1, Ward put the ball in danger a little bit more often on July 24. He threw his first interception of training camp on the first play of 7-on-7s, firing a ball directly into the chest of linebacker Cody Barton. Barton also broke up a Ward pass by jumping a quick hitch later in 7-on-7s, continuing the edge Barton’s had on Ward that dates back to OTAs and minicamp, when Barton picked off Ward twice.
Ward was also under pressure fairly consistently, particularly on rollout plays when edge defenders such as Dre’Mont Jones and Femi Oladejo were able to get in his face and disrupt his timing. There were instances where Ward was able to counteract the Titans’ defensive aggression; Ward found receiver Bryce Oliver practically uncovered in a team period by throwing to Oliver almost immediately after the snap before the coverage could twist toward the receiver.
But otherwise, Day 2 wasn’t a highlights haven. Ward finished either 9-for-15 or 9-for-16, depending on how you’d rule a play that might’ve been blown dead for a sack, with no passes that would’ve gone for touchdowns.
Here’s the play-by-play breakdown of Ward’s day.
Cam Ward stats: Tennessee Titans training camp play-by-play
7-on-7s:
1st-and-10: Ward is intercepted by Barton over the middle2nd-and-5: Ward completes a hitch to receiver Elic Ayomanor1st-and-10: Ward completes a crossing route to receiver Tyler Lockett1st-and-10: Ward checks down to running back Tyjae Spears on a swing route1st-and-10: Ward throws wide and off-target, missing Spears incomplete but away from defenders2nd-and-8: Ward completes a crossing route to receiver Van Jefferson1st-and-10: Ward hits receiver Chimere Dike on a comeback hitch over the middle2nd-and-5: Ward checks at the line of scrimmage and throws short to tight end David Martin-Robinson, but Barton reads the play and breaks up the pass
Final 7-on-7 stats: 5-for-8, one interception, one PBU
11-on-11 stats:
1st-and-10: Ward is forced out of the pocket and has to scramble to his right. He tries to dump off to Spears but the ball falls incomplete.1st-and-10: Ward completes a swing pass to Lockett1st-and-10: Ward attempts a screen pass but throws incomplete with Oladejo in pursuit2nd-and-5: Ward finds Oliver open down the sideline before the coverage is able to adjust1st-and-10: Ward throws incomplete to Martin-Robinson. Jones had a pressure on the play and could’ve possibly recorded a sack in live action.2nd-and-5: Ward completes to Jefferson on a crossing route2nd-and-5: Ward completes a quick out to Lockett2nd-and-4: Ward is pressured and corralled in the pocket for what likely would’ve resulted in a sack. The play continued and Ward heaved deep to receiver Calvin Ridley who had four defenders around him. The ball got into Ridley’s hands but was broken up by safety Xavier Woods.
Final 11-on-11 stats: 4-for-8, one PBU
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.