NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward has done one thing very well to make a good impression on his new coach Robert Saleh.
Take care of the ball.
Ward is among eight qualifying NFL quarterbacks without an interception this season. Even better, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2025 draft has gone six straight games without an interception, and Ward has been picked off only once over his past 11 games. He has thrown 11 touchdowns
and ran for four more in that span.
Saleh said Wednesday that Ward is deliberate.
“He’s kind of earned the right to be trusted with regards to taking care of the football,” Saleh said. “Takeaways and turnovers (are) the No. 1 indicator for wins and losses through the history of football. Having an offense that takes care of ball to the level we have, hopefully that continues.”
Ward's ball security hasn't translated into more wins yet for the Titans (0-2), who visit the New York Giants (1-1) on Sunday for their first road trip this season. Saleh has made clear how much he values protecting the ball and forcing turnovers on defense.
It's an emphasis for the Titans. A player has much more than just a ball in his hands during games.
“They hold the facility in their hands,” Ward said. ”So the biggest thing for us is the ball is the prize, not us. And the more we can protect it, the more chance we give ourselves to win games.”
Ward spent the offseason learning yet another new offense with Saleh bringing in former Giants coach Brian Daboll to run the offense. Through two games, the Titans have the NFL's worst time of possession at just 22 minutes, 25 seconds.
Yet they led 20-17 with 1:56 left before losing to Philadelphia last week.
Ward, who has yet to throw for 300 yards in any of his 19 starts, completed four passes of at least 25 yards. That tied his career high and tied for second most among quarterbacks in Week 2. The longest was a 41-yarder to Elic Ayomanor where Ward hit the receiver with room to run after the catch.
“We just connected on the big-time plays that we needed to at the right time,” Ward said. "I think just us continuing to get better with our timing in and out of practice and I was able to put the ball in a good spot for them to make plays. ... Once I do that more, we’ll be able to see the athleticism of guys come out.”
Now Ward gets to go against a Giants defense run by the same man who was the Titans' coordinator during the quarterback's rookie season.
Obviously Dennard Wilson has different players with the Giants. Ward knows what to expect.
“His defense certainly presents its challenges, but it's going to be exciting to go against my first defense coordinator I had at NFL," Ward said. "He was a great person. He has a great system for those guys, and it’s going to be fun to go against.”
Starting CB Cor'Dale Flott, who missed last week's game with tightness in a quadriceps muscle, was limited Wednesday. Rookie RG Fernando Carmona Jr. (shoulder) practiced fully. Running backs Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears both did not practice with injured ankles. DT Solomon Thomas (knee) was limited.
___
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
