Cam Ward’s preseason has already started drawing sharp criticism, and now the Tennessee quarterback is getting hit with a comparison that lands like a punch.
Nashville sports analyst Jared Stillman went after Ward in a video posted to X on Tuesday, arguing that the Titans quarterback has the same kind of concerns that once kept NFL teams from taking Shedeur Sanders.
"Everything the NFL was worried about with Shedeur Sanders is exactly what Cam Ward is," Stillman said on Tuesday. "NFL teams were afraid to draft Shedeur Sanders because they were worried that his talent wasn't good enough to overcome the Shedeur sideshow, the Deion clown show, and that Shedeur would be too entitled, and in the end, they were afraid that if we draft Shedeur Sanders, we're gonna get fired because of it.
"Cam did not have No. 1 overall talent. He's short.
He's got bad mechanics. He's inaccurate, and he wasn't really a great decision-maker at Miami, just like Shedeur doesn't have No. 1 talent.
"They gave him the job as starting quarterback with zero competition. They've compared him to Patrick Mahomes, and they've compared him to Brett Favre without there being any proof of concept that he's Patrick Mahomes or he's Brett Favre.
"Cam Ward hasn't had to earn anything in Nashville, Tennessee, or the NFL. And every time something doesn't go well, he and everybody around him blames somebody else."
Ward’s on-field work against Seattle did little to quiet the noise. Tennessee improved to 2-0 in the preseason after edging the Seahawks 19-16 at Nissan Stadium on Sunday, but Ward’s numbers were only modestly better than his first outing.
He completed 8 of 12 passes for 69 yards, up from a 5-of-12 performance in Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers. His biggest completion was a 33-yard gain on a checkdown to running back Tony Pollard, while rookie wideout Carnell Tate was held without a catch on five targets.
Ward also took a sack that turned into a backward fumble out of bounds, marking his second straight week with a turnover under pressure. Tennessee’s starting offense has produced just one touchdown in six possessions this preseason.
The Titans’ defense had an even rougher day. Seattle backup quarterback Drew Lock went 12 of 14 for 103 yards and a touchdown, and running back Jacardia Wright ripped off a 69-yard score against Tennessee’s first-team defense.
Sanders, meanwhile, has been speaking about his own mindset in Cleveland. In a recent interview, he said, "I took a deep breath of everything, just looked at everything for what it is and how thankful I am for the chance to be out here every day and just maximize it,"
When asked about his growth since his rookie season, Sanders added, "I don't think I'm a dumb human being, you know. I think I'm very bright."
In Other News...
Titans Roster Projection Hints At A Familiar QB Shift After Seahawks Game
With the August 30 roster cut deadline closing in, the Titans are reaching the point where training camp and preseason snaps start to carry real weight for Robert Salehs first full roster in Nashville. The latest projection leans on what has happened in camp and during exhibition play, sorting through the quarterback room along with the running backs, receivers, tight ends, offensive line and defensive line, while making clear that a few spots are still very much up for grabs.
The most interesting part of the exercise is how much it suggests the depth chart could still be in motion after the Seahawks game, especially in a quarterback picture that already feels familiar to anyone tracking the competition closely. There are established names and some obvious roster locks, but the final few decisions could leave the Titans with a reshaped look by the time the deadline passes, and the next round of preseason evaluation may be just as important as the last. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Quarterback Battle Just Got More Concerning Against The Bears
The Titans got back on the field after their preseason win and, at least from the quarterback room, the early returns were hard to ignore. Cam Ward, Mitch Trubisky and Will Levis combined for a busy day in practice, with most of the damage coming in red zone work, where the group piled up touchdowns but also handed out interceptions. Ward had the roughest time with accuracy, while Trubisky and Levis looked steadier even as both still put the ball in harms way.
For a team still sorting out its regular-season readiness, that kind of mixed session only adds to the pressure around the depth chart. The Titans need more than flashes from the position, especially with roster decisions looming and every rep carrying extra weight in a battle that has already felt unsettled. What happened in that first practice after the preseason win did not settle much, and it may have left the competition looking more concerning than before. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Passing Problems Go Well Beyond Cam Ward
The Titans passing game has been a work in progress, and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll made it clear the issues are not being pinned on Cam Ward alone. Daboll pointed to a mix of problems, from receiver route execution to protection, while Ward himself acknowledged the offense has left opportunities on the field as he continues learning the new system.
Robert Saleh offered a similar read on the situation, saying Ward has generally made good decisions with the ball. Even so, the message around the building is the same: the quarterbacks development matters, but Tennessee needs cleaner play across the board before the passing attack can settle in. [Read more 🡒]