QB Cam Ward and the Titans Showing Growing Pains Now That Pads Are On in Training Camp
The Tennessee Titans are in the thick of their 2025 training camp, and with the pads now on, the tone around practice has shifted dramatically. What was once light-footed work through offensive installs and positional drills has turned into a full-contact proving ground—and for rookie quarterback Cam Ward, it’s becoming clear that the transition from college star to NFL starter is as steep as expected.
Ward, the high-profile signal caller out of Washington State, was brought to Nashville with a great deal of hope. His arm strength, pocket mobility, and knack for big plays had scouts buzzing, and the Titans believed they found a long-term solution at quarterback when they landed him in the draft. He’s confident, composed, and carries himself with leadership qualities you want in your franchise quarterback. But now that the defense is allowed to hit, and the speed of the game is no longer theoretical, Ward and the Titans offense are starting to feel the growing pains that are inevitable in a rebuild.
This part of training camp, when pads come on and live drills increase in frequency, often reveals more about a young quarterback than anything seen during spring workouts or early July sessions. Timing windows shrink. Blitzers arrive faster. Coverage becomes tighter. And it’s in this pressure-cooker that decision-making, poise, and adaptability are tested. Ward has looked poised in flashes, showing the arm talent that made him a collegiate standout. He’s made throws on the run, launched tight spirals over the middle, and shown comfort throwing into zone coverage. But he’s also made mistakes—bad reads, misfires under pressure, and an increasing number of reps where the offense fails to sustain momentum against a fast, physical defense.
This is all part of the learning curve, and no one inside the Titans organization seems surprised. Head coach Brian Callahan has said all along that the team is not expecting perfection from Ward in August. What they are expecting, however, is progress. That means seeing how Ward bounces back from interceptions, how he communicates with his receivers after a busted route, and how he adjusts protections at the line when the defense disguises a look. The physical tools are there. What Ward needs now is experience, repetition, and time to get comfortable in the fire.
One of the recurring issues so far has been chemistry with his receiving corps. While some of that can be chalked up to the natural rhythm-building process every young quarterback goes through, there have been signs of miscommunication between Ward and his receivers on route depth, timing, and hot reads. On multiple occasions during padded practice, Ward has released the ball expecting one thing and getting another—throws that land in open grass or, worse, directly in the arms of a defender. The challenge is compounded by the fact that the Titans’ receiving group is itself in flux, with rookies, undrafted free agents, and veteran additions all vying for spots and reps. That constant rotation has made continuity difficult to develop, and Ward is learning to adapt on the fly.
The offensive line hasn’t made things easier, either. With multiple starting jobs still up for grabs, the unit is being shuffled constantly, and protection has been inconsistent. Ward has taken more than a few would-be sacks and has been forced off his spot in the pocket on a regular basis. These moments offer him the chance to showcase his mobility, which he’s done effectively at times. But too often, he’s had to resort to improvisation when what he needs is a clean pocket and time to progress through reads. That said, Ward’s ability to keep plays alive has been one of the few bright spots, and it’s clear that the coaching staff is encouraging him to lean into that strength while still learning the structure of the offense.
What Ward is facing isn’t unique—it’s typical of every young quarterback who steps into the NFL spotlight with high expectations. The speed of defenders, the complexity of defensive schemes, and the mental challenge of leading an NFL offense are all cranked up from the college level. There’s also the matter of leadership. Ward has naturally stepped into that role with confidence, but it takes time to earn the respect of veterans and command a huddle in crunch time. That respect isn’t given in the meeting rooms—it’s earned in the huddle, on the field, and through resilience after failure.
The Titans defense deserves some credit for the struggles as well. With Jeffrey Simmons anchoring the defensive line and a secondary that’s playing with increasing aggression, Tennessee’s defense is making life hard on the offense—and that’s by design. Callahan has made it clear that he wants training camp to be competitive. The defense is being coached to attack, disguise, and confuse, and it’s working. Ward is getting exposed to the kind of pressure he’ll see in real games, which, while frustrating in the short term, is vital to his long-term development.
Still, it’s not just Ward feeling the pressure. The entire Titans offense is trying to find its identity. With new personnel, a new coaching staff, and a system that’s being built from the ground up, the hiccups are to be expected. Missed assignments, blown protections, and penalties have all crept into practices over the last few days, and while none of that is shocking, it does add layers of difficulty for a young quarterback trying to find rhythm and consistency. Cam Ward is the focal point, but he’s not alone in experiencing these growing pains.
The coaching staff remains patient but firm. There’s an understanding that mistakes now are investments in future success. What’s important is how Ward learns from them. Is he reviewing film? Is he correcting on the field the next day? Is he staying even-keeled through both good and bad stretches? By most accounts, he’s doing just that. Coaches have praised his work ethic and attitude, and while the flashes of brilliance haven’t become a full-blown firestorm yet, there’s a sense that it’s coming. It just won’t be overnight.
And that’s really the takeaway from this stretch of camp. The Titans are not a finished product. They are building something new, something that will take time, patience, and persistence. Cam Ward is at the center of that project, and his journey will be full of ups and downs. These growing pains—missed reads, sacks, stalled drives—are not setbacks. They are the foundation being laid. Every mistake is a lesson. Every rep is an opportunity to grow. Every padded practice is a chance to get one step closer to being ready for Sundays.
As the Titans continue camp, the focus will remain on improvement over perfection. For Cam Ward, it’s about stacking good days, learning from bad ones, and staying mentally tough as the speed and physicality of the NFL become his new reality. The growing pains are here—but that’s exactly what this phase of his development should look like. What matters most is where it leads, and whether the flashes start turning into something the Titans can truly build around. So far, despite the struggles, all signs point to a quarterback who’s facing the challenge head-on and gaining ground with every snap.
