Titans rookie QB Cam Ward gets harsh NFL welcome vs. Bucs
Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward got his “welcome to the NFL” moment during a joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Tennessee Titans’ rookie quarterback Cam Ward has gone largely overlooked by the media considering he was the first overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft. But his time in the spotlight is coming up as the Titans get ready for their first preseason game on Saturday, August 9 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Ahead of the game, however, Ward was given a harsh “welcome to the NFL” at training camp.
From brawl to pick: Cam Ward’s wild first NFL practice day
Cam Ward got his “welcome to the NFL” moment during a joint practice with the Buccaneers, and it came right after a bench-clearing brawl.
Bench clearing brawl at Buccaneers Titans joint practice
— Stank Bastard (@StankBastard) August 7, 2025
Tristan Wirfs even limped out on the field with his cane 😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/HV8mfXIObA
In a two-minute drill against Tampa Bay’s first-team defense, Ward’s pass was intercepted by Haason Reddick, sparking cheers from Bucs fans and playful taunts from players.
“I tried throwing around him, didn’t throw it enough inside for Chiggy (Chig Okonkwo) to get it,” Ward said.
The No. 1 overall pick’s first day against an NFL defense brought a mix of mistakes and flashes of high-level play, including sharp anticipation throws and smart reads. Ward is still building chemistry with his receivers, especially veteran Tyler Lockett.
“Lock is one of the most productive slots in football. He don’t look like it, but that man’s a dog" Ward said. “He’ll help me out from what he sees from his alignment, because my alignment is really all about angles. Sometimes I have to throw the ball away from defenders, and just me getting reps with him on the non-timing routes, just seeing where he’s gonna end up or where I need to put the ball.”
Ward’s growth is on display as he prepares for a tough Week 1 road game in Denver in September when Tennessee faces the Broncos in their regular-season opener.
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