Cam Ward has already made it clear he’s not going to tiptoe through NFL life, and that edge showed up again during the Tennessee Titans’ recent joint practice with the San Francisco 49ers.
Fred Warner came away impressed. The 49ers linebacker, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, said Ward’s willingness to jaw back and forth stood out even while the quarterback was lining up against one of the league’s toughest defenses.
"I think Cam is one of the unique quarterbacks where he's not afraid to sit there and play that game with you," Warner said of Ward.
Warner added, "I love joint practices, though. It’s the best."
The exchange didn’t seem to bother Ward at all. He welcomed the back-and-forth and said that kind of test is exactly what he wants.
"That's what I want to see, because I want him to be at his best. So, when I'm at my best, I know what I can and can't do in a game," said Ward. "He helped me out a lot today, he's a great player."
The practice itself got chippy enough that not everyone made it through cleanly. Austin Deculus and Dan Moore Jr. were both sent off after their own altercations, while Ward’s run-in with Warner stayed in the realm of competitive trash talk.
For Tennessee, that kind of heat seems to fit the mood. Carnell Tate described the practice as "fast and violent" and framed the day as a chance for the Titans to show "who we are."
That attitude now rolls straight into Thursday’s preseason opener against San Francisco. The same 49ers who tried to lean on Tennessee in practice will face the Titans again, only this time with home field and a crowd behind them.
For Ward and a Titans team under a new head coach, it’s an early chance to make a statement. And if the quarterback’s chatter is any indication, he won’t be backing down when the lights come on.
In Other News...
Titans Center Battle Is Starting To Tell A Bigger Story
As the Titans get set for a joint practice and preseason game against the 49ers, the center competition is beginning to take on more shape than the team probably expected this early in camp. Early reports and Tennessees first preseason depth chart point to Austin Schlottmann, the free-agent addition, as the player trending toward the starting job, with ESPNs Turron Davenport noting the way the reps have been sorting out and teammates also offering support for what they have seen.
Pat Coogan is still in the mix, but the first preseason depth chart offered a clearer snapshot of where things stand by placing him behind Andre James and Schlottmann. For a line still sorting out its best configuration, the center spot matters well beyond one position battle, and the Titans now have a small but meaningful clue about which direction they may be leaning as the preseason work picks up. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Depth Chart Just Turned These Camp Battles Into Real Pressure
The Titans put out their first depth chart of the season ahead of the preseason meeting with the San Francisco 49ers, and it immediately gave some of camps quieter competitions a more official feel. Running back Nick Singleton, linebacker Cody Barton, swing tackle options Austin Deculus and Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, along with kicker Joey Slye all landed in the spotlight as the staff started sorting out who has the inside track in a handful of unsettled spots.
For Tennessee, the bigger takeaway is that these early listings are less about final answers than about where the pressure is landing right now. Positions along the offensive line and on special teams can flip quickly in August, and the Titans will be watching closely to see who handles the first real test against another teams uniforms, especially with several jobs still very much up for grabs. [Read more 🡒]