Just when it looked like it was finally going well.
The Tennessee Titans took the practice field for the sixth time in training camp on Aug. 1, using what was previously scheduled to be an off day to get a little extra work in with a third full-pads practice in four days. Rookie quarterback Cam Ward hadn’t exactly thrived in the first two contact practices, completing around one-third of his passes with four interceptions and at least five other balls tipped, batted or deflected away. But the first practice of August started off pretty smoothly, with Ward acquitting himself well enough in a low-stress team period and then cranking up the impressiveness in a third down drill.
Ward and the Titans’ No. 1 offense converted three out of five on third-and-long plays in the period, with Ward completing balls to receivers Chimere Dike and Van Jefferson for long gains, and running back Tyjae Spears finding a hole for another conversion. The ball never hit the ground in the period, with Ward hitting receiver Tyler Lockett short of the sticks on one rep that likely would’ve set up a fourth-and-short, and Ward succumbing to a sack on the fifth play.
Then the Titans broke into the two-minute offense and Ward kept his third-down proficiency going. After an incompletion and a completion for no gain on first and second down, Ward hit Lockett on another crossing route to move the sticks. Then Ward had balls batted away at the line of scrimmage on the ensuing first and second downs, only to sling a ball sidearm through the middle of the formation to Jefferson on a slant route, keeping the chains moving a second time.
First down got the best of him again, though. On his final snap of the practice, Ward threw late behind Lockett on an out-breaking route, right into the chest of cornerback Roger McCreary, who intercepted Ward and took the ball the other direction to end the day and leave Ward heading into the weekend with yet another sour taste.
Here are more of The Tennessean’s observations from training camp practice number six.
Tennessee Titans training camp observationsCalvin Ridley and T’Vondre Sweat were among the Titans who didn’t practice. Ridley was granted a non-injury-related veteran off-day after cramping up early in the week, and Sweat is listed as day-to-day with an abdominal issue.Give credit to star defender Jeffery Simmons for one of the batted passes against Ward in the two-minute drill, something Simmons has made a bit of a habit of throughout camp.A couple of undrafted rookies had some standout moments. Cornerback Jermari Harris made a nice pass breakup in a team period, and edge defender Desmond Evans made an impressive play in a 1-on-1 rush drill to beat starting tackle JC Latham.Rookie defensive back Kevin Winston Jr.’s versatility showed through yet again in this practice, and his role continues to elevate on the team after just a little more than a week of returning to practice after an injury last fall.
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.