49ers Eye Rookie Cam Ward, Sack Surge as Titans Come to Town
SANTA CLARA - When the Patriots faced Cam Ward and the Titans back in October, the scoreboard told one story - a 31-13 New England win - but defensive end Keion White saw something else entirely. Lined up across from the rookie quarterback, White came away impressed.
“It’s your rookie year, you’re the No. 1 pick overall, and your head coach just got fired. That’s not an easy situation,” White said. “So I’m impressed how he’s handling it and is still confident.”
Ward and the 2-11 Titans now head to Levi’s Stadium this Sunday to take on a 49ers team that’s rested, riding a three-game win streak, and looking to rev up a pass rush that’s been surprisingly quiet this season. San Francisco enters Week 15 with just 16 sacks - the fewest in the league. But if there’s a quarterback who might help change that, it’s Ward.
The rookie’s been sacked 49 times this season, tied for the most in the NFL alongside the Raiders’ Geno Smith. And part of that is due to how long he holds onto the football. According to NextGen Stats, Ward averages 2.93 seconds to throw - one of the slowest release times in the league.
“He’s still a rookie, so he holds onto the ball a little longer than the league average,” White added. “But I’m still impressed with how poised he is.”
This will be the second straight week the Niners face a rookie quarterback, and there’s a chance they’ll see a third next week if the Colts stick with Riley Leonard following Daniel Jones’ Achilles injury. Last time out, the 49ers got to Cleveland’s Shedeur Sanders three times in a 26-8 win - two sacks from Clelin Ferrell and one from White. Sanders, for comparison, held the ball even longer than Ward, averaging 3.37 seconds to throw - the longest mark by a Browns quarterback in the last three seasons.
As White pointed out, disguises on the back end can be especially disruptive for young quarterbacks still adjusting to the speed and complexity of NFL defenses.
“You disguise, make them see different pictures, and actually process the game,” White said. “Veteran quarterbacks usually see through that.
For a rookie, it’s an adjustment. In college, the secondary isn’t disguising much.”
The 49ers’ defensive front could get a boost this week, too. There’s a chance defensive ends Sam Okuayinonu (high-ankle sprain) and Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring, IR) return to the lineup. Okuayinonu, who missed just one game, has been studying Ward in anticipation of a possible return, though he didn’t participate in Monday’s bonus practice.
San Francisco’s low sack total isn’t entirely surprising given the injuries they’ve dealt with - Nick Bosa went down in Week 3, Mykel Williams followed in Week 9. Ferrell and Bryce Huff lead the team with four sacks apiece, though Huff has been quiet lately in terms of finishing plays.
He hasn’t recorded a sack in the last four games, but his 14 quarterback hits show he’s still generating pressure. No other Niner has more than four QB hits.
Ward, for his part, is coming off a win in Cleveland - a 31-29 Titans victory in which he was sacked just once, and that was by none other than Myles Garrett for his league-leading 20th sack. Ward threw two touchdowns for the first time in his young career, but his efficiency remains a work in progress. He completed just 12 of 24 passes for 117 yards - his lowest total since his NFL debut.
On the season, Ward has completed 59% of his 440 pass attempts, with nine touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a passer rating of 74.9 - 27th in the league.
Ward’s journey to the NFL has been anything but conventional. A Texas native, he began his college career at Incarnate Word in San Antonio back in 2020, transferred to Washington State in 2022, and then finished at Miami in 2024, where he led the Hurricanes to a 10-2 record. That run included a dramatic comeback win at Cal and a headline-grabbing halftime exit in the Pop-Tarts Bowl against Iowa State.
Rookie QB Kurtis Rourke Begins Practice Window
While Ward is already deep into his trial-by-fire rookie campaign, another young quarterback is just beginning his NFL journey. Kurtis Rourke, the 49ers’ seventh-round pick out of Indiana, had his three-week practice window opened Monday after spending the season on the reserve/non-football-injury list following ACL surgery in January.
Rourke isn’t expected to play this season - essentially a redshirt year - but getting back on the practice field is a big step.
“Everything has been mental at this point, trying to remember and learn as much as I can, learn what Kyle [Shanahan] and the staff wants,” Rourke said.
The 49ers currently carry Brock Purdy and Mac Jones on the active roster, with Adrian Martinez on the practice squad. Jones, under contract through 2026, has gone 5-3 as a spot starter this season. That could make him a trade candidate in the offseason, potentially opening the door for Rourke to step into a backup role next year - assuming he’s fully healthy.
“It’s been great to be in that room to learn from Mac and Brock, and everyone who’s provided information and help for when this moment comes,” Rourke said.
Rourke transferred to Indiana from Ohio and played a key role in revitalizing the Hoosiers’ offense last season.
Playoff Picture Shifts - and the 49ers Are Climbing
Even during their bye week, the 49ers made a move up the NFC playoff ladder - jumping from the No. 7 to the No. 6 seed thanks to the Bears’ loss to Green Bay. And with four weeks left, the door to the No. 1 seed is still technically open.
“It is motivating, there is an opportunity to be the No. 1 seed,” said right tackle Colton McKivitz. “Obviously we’ll need some help to get there, but if we take care of our business, it gives us a shot.
And if it happens - another bye week in four weeks sounds pretty awesome. We’ve been there before and enjoyed that.”
McKivitz spent part of the bye week duck hunting in Benicia, streaming Sunday’s NFL action on his phone while out in the field.
“I had my phone on there, ducks were circling and it was great,” he said. Earlier in the week, he hit the seven-duck limit alongside teammates Connor Colby and Drake Nugent.
Jennings Responds to Trash Talk Claims
Wide receiver Jauan Jennings brushed off claims that his trash talk crossed the line during the 49ers’ win over Cleveland. Browns defensive tackle Shelby Harris hinted at things getting too personal, just a week after Carolina’s Tre’von Moehrig punched Jennings following a verbal exchange.
“I’m going to keep that to myself of what I said, but I know it wasn’t that bad and he knows that,” Jennings said.
Roster Moves: Wallow In, Bartch to IR
The 49ers claimed linebacker Garret Wallow off waivers from the Denver Broncos, reuniting him with former TCU teammate Dee Winters. Meanwhile, guard Ben Bartch has been placed on injured reserve with a foot injury. Bartch had previously spent time on IR earlier this season due to an ankle issue.
What’s Next
The 49ers return to action Sunday at Levi’s Stadium against the Titans, with a chance to build on their momentum and keep climbing the NFC playoff picture. And for a defense looking to rediscover its pass rush, a rookie quarterback who holds the ball a beat too long might be just what the doctor ordered.