Coug vs. Coug: Gardner Minshew, Cam Ward Set for Rare QB Showdown in Titans-Chiefs Clash
When the Chiefs and Titans take the field this Sunday in Nashville, there’ll be more on the line than just pride and playoff positioning - we’re about to witness a rare slice of Washington State football history.
Gardner Minshew and Cam Ward, both former WSU quarterbacks, are set to face off as starters in what appears to be the first regular-season NFL matchup between Coug QBs in over 30 years. You have to go all the way back to 1992 for a similar showdown, when Mark Rypien’s Washington squad dismantled Timm Rosenbach and the Phoenix Cardinals. That was a rematch of a 1990 beatdown, also won by Rypien, and while the two teams crossed paths a few more times in that late-‘80s/early-‘90s stretch, injuries kept one or the other sidelined.
There was almost a Coug-on-Coug moment in 2001 when Drew Bledsoe suited up for the Patriots in a preseason game against Ryan Leaf’s Buccaneers - but Leaf didn’t see the field, and the two never met during Leaf’s time with the Chargers either.
**Now, here we are. Minshew vs.
Ward. A long time coming.
**
Ward's Rookie Grind
Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in last spring’s draft, has been in the fire from Day 1 for a rebuilding Titans squad that’s stumbled to a 2-12 record. But don’t let the record fool you - Ward’s flashes of promise are very real.
He’s thrown for 2,638 yards with 11 touchdowns and 7 interceptions, and he’s coming off arguably his cleanest game of the season. In a 37-24 loss to the 49ers last week, Ward went 170 yards through the air with 2 TDs, no picks, and - for the first time all year - zero sacks.
That’s no small feat against a Niners front that feasts on quarterbacks.
He’s still learning, still adjusting, but Ward’s poise and arm talent are giving Titans fans a reason to believe the foundation is being laid.
Minshew Takes the Reins in KC
On the other side, Gardner Minshew is stepping into the spotlight under far different circumstances. The Chiefs' season took a gut punch last week when Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL in a 16-13 loss to the Chargers. Now, it’s Minshew’s team - at least for the remainder of the season - and the veteran gets his first start in Kansas City colors this Sunday.
Minshew has seen limited action this season, appearing in three games but only logging stats in relief against the Chargers. He completed 3 of 5 passes for 22 yards and a pick - a rough ending to a promising drive.
With less than two minutes left and the Chiefs trailing by three, Minshew marched them into field goal range. But with 20 seconds on the clock, he took a shot into the red zone that was intercepted, effectively ending Kansas City’s playoff hopes.
After the game, Minshew was candid.
"I feel very comfortable to go in and execute the offense," he said. "Hate that I couldn't deliver, and get us a win, and keep our hopes alive."
He also spoke with clear emotion about Mahomes.
"It's been hard to watch for Pat. That dude put so much into it. I don't think I've ever respected anyone I've played with more."
This will be Minshew’s 47th career start, and Kansas City will be the fifth team he’s started for - a testament to his journeyman resilience. From Jacksonville to Philly, Indy to Vegas, and now KC, Minshew continues to prove he’s a reliable option when called upon.
A Cougar Protecting a Cougar
And here’s a fun wrinkle - Minshew won’t be the only former Cougar in the Chiefs’ starting lineup. Protecting his blindside will be rookie left tackle Esa Pole, who’s quietly putting together a strong debut campaign. Pole has started the last two games and posted a 65.9 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus, an encouraging sign for a young lineman thrust into a high-pressure role.
One Chiefs assistant coach couldn’t hide his enthusiasm:
"When a guy like Esa steps up and does what he did in that moment, I cannot begin to say how proud I am of him. You're not always gonna be spot-on with your evaluations until sometimes guys get real chances, and he got a real chance."
NFL Cougs Around the League
This week also saw a flurry of contributions - and a few setbacks - from other Washington State alumni across the NFL:
- Jaylen Watson (Chiefs CB) was active in the loss to LA, tallying four tackles and notching his second sack of the season on a perfectly timed corner blitz that left Justin Herbert with no chance.
- Jaden Hicks (Chiefs S) made the most of limited snaps, picking up his first career sack on a key third down. Only five plays, but one big moment.
- Daiyan Henley (Chargers LB) played the role of game-changer, intercepting Mahomes in the red zone with LA clinging to a three-point lead. His performance earned him a team-best 91.6 PFF grade.
- Abraham Lucas (Seahawks RT) had a brief injury scare but returned quickly and finished strong. His 82.8 offensive grade led the team in their gritty 18-16 win over the Colts. A Pro Bowl nod could be in his future.
- Frankie Luvu (Commanders LB) helped snap an eight-game skid with five tackles in a 29-21 win over the Giants.
- Chau Smith-Wade (Panthers DB) had six tackles against the Saints, but missed a golden opportunity for a pick that could’ve flipped the game. Carolina fell 20-17.
- Kyle Williams (Patriots WR) didn’t see any targets in New England’s wild 35-31 comeback over Buffalo, but he’s clearly next in line if a starter goes down.
- Jalen Thompson (Cardinals S) missed the game against Houston with a hamstring injury - only his fifth missed game in five years. Arizona’s defense gave up 40 in his absence, extending their losing streak to six.
- Brennan Jackson (Raiders EDGE) remains out with a foot injury that’s sidelined him since late October.
- Andre Dillard (49ers OL) has been out all season with an ankle injury.
Bottom Line: Sunday’s Chiefs-Titans game might not carry playoff weight, but it’s a significant moment for Washington State football. Two former Cougs - both now NFL starters - will go head-to-head in a rare, decades-in-the-making quarterback showdown. Minshew brings the experience, Ward brings the future, and both will be looking to make a statement.
If you’re a Coug, a fan of the underdog QB story, or just love watching football history in the making, this one’s worth tuning in for.