The No. 1 overall pick didn't get going until his second drive on Saturday night.
Once Cam Ward found Calvin Ridley, though, the top pick of the 2025 NFL Draft began to display the potential that led to the Tennessee Titans selecting him this spring.
Ward, following an 0-for-2 first drive, was 5-of-8 passing for 67 yards, with three passes to Ridley for 50 yards in the Titans' 29-7 preseason-opening loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Ward's night lasted two drives, with the first a three-and-out sandwiched between two long Bucs possessions.
"Cam played well in his two series that he got," Titans head coach Brian Callahan said. "It was kind of a weird first half with three possessions. Had one three-and-out and came back and led a touchdown drive. I thought he looked good and started to feel comfortable. He was begging to go back in but that wasn't in the cards tonight. I thought he did some good things and it's encouraging."
After a long wait to get back in, Ward had plenty of time in the pocket and hit a wide-open Ridley over the middle for a 27-yard completion. After another completion to Tyler Lockett was negated by a penalty, Ward went back to Ridley. He lofted a dangerous ball to the sideline but connected with Ridley for a 10-yarder and then hit him again for 13 yards.
Ward hooked up with Lockett once more to convert on third-and-6, with the play setting up an eventual Tony Pollard 1-yard touchdown.
That was it for Ward, with the Miami product going out on a high note in his first preseason showing.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway was Ward was pressured just once on eight dropbacks and didn't take a sack. A budding chemistry with Ridley seems apparent, but Ward's best friend will be an improved Titans offensive line.
There's plenty of preseason left before Ward's rookie season begins in earnest, but the signal-caller had a fine first showing.
