NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Satisfied.
That’s how the Titans and Cam Ward wound up feeling about the No. 1 pick’s preseason performance.
He led them on a great drive in his two series Friday night at Nissan Stadium in the team’s 23-13 win over the Vikings, who sat 39 players.
The Titans, without a dozen players including seven starters, moved 90 yards in 13 plays to a 1-yard Julius Chestnut touchdown plunge in the second quarter to end Ward’s work.
“Exactly what we were hoping to see, led a long drive, he was efficient, he was accurate, we ran the ball well, we complemented all those things, the run and the pass,” Brian Callahan said. “It was good to have all of those thing in that last experience.”
Cam Ward's preseason for #Titans:
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) August 23, 2025
10-19, 145 yards, .526, no TD, no INT, 1 sack, 77.8 passer rating
The coach’s overall review of Ward’s preseason:
“I think his command’s been outstanding. He doesn’t get rattled. He fights through. We’ve had some long down and distances. He’s made some plays. He’s made some really nice throws. There is just a confidence in his demeanor that I have when he’s in there that nine of this is too big for him. And he really operates calmly, finds completions. And those are the things that we’ve worked on.
“He’s going to be able to make the big plays; that’s what he does. And he’s going to be able to move around more when I don’t have the governor on him to not take any hits. I think all of that stuff has been really positive. He’s done really well in his limited showing, and I’m confident in where he’s at.”
Callahan knows it’s been mostly vanilla/ standard looks for the Titans in preseason, though they did see a bit of cover zero from the Vikings, which he was happy about.
All that changes when they are next on the field, Sept. 7 in Denver’s altitude against Vance Joseph’s defense.
Bounce back: Van Jefferson’s roster spot was never in jeopardy, but after drops in each of the first two preseason games, he had a strong performance in the finale. He pulled in three catches for a game-high 102 yards including a 65-yard TD where he took a short pass on the left sideline and turned on the jets when defensive back Tavierre Thomas slipped.
“Van had himself a day,” Ward said. “He does that really every day in practice. It’s all about putting the ball in his hands and letting him make a play. It’s something I want to do every chance I get the opportunity to. I’m excited for Van. I’m excited that we have him on our team; he’s a team player. I’m ready to throw the football to him some more.”
Big night: Joey Slye’s big leg is a big part of why the Titans bright him in, and he hit the liongest field goal in Nissan Stadium history in the third quarter, a 63-yarder that eclipsed Rob Bironas’ 60-yard game winner against the Colts from 2006.
Joey Slye from 63 yards is good. Longest field goal ever at Nissan Stadium. Longest that counted: Rob Bironas 60-yard game-winner vs. Colts in 2006. #Titans pic.twitter.com/r66P9QRUYi
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) August 23, 2025
Slye also hit a remarkable double-doink from 53 yards in the fourth quarter, hitting the right upright and then the crossbar. After the initial clank, the ball actually drifted out toward the field. But as it dropped, it flipped and turned in a way that pulled it back toward the stands and it hit the crossbar and went over.
“That (double doink) was a rare occurrence,” Callahan said. “What was the field goal’s length? Sixty-three? That’s real range right there. That was an impressive kick. I think it hit the net too, so it had some room to spare on it. That’s a weapon, we can get points at those ranges, that’s a huge deal for us from a points perspective.”