Titans Were Intrigued By WR Carnell Tate’s Work Against Press Coverage; Latest On Team’s QB Room
When the Cardinals selected running back Jeremiyah Love with the No. 3 overall pick in last month’s draft, many expected the Titans to grab linebacker/EDGE Arvell Reese with the No. 4 choice. As we learned after the draft, the Titans were concerned about Reese’s positional fit in new head coach Robert Saleh’s defense, which is one of the reasons why Tennessee opted for wide receiver Carnell Tate instead (although the team reportedly would have taken Reese if Tate had not been available).
We also learned the Titans viewed Tate’s athleticism more highly than his official scouting combine metrics. And there was another aspect of his game that drew Tennessee to the former Buckeye: his ability against press coverage.
As ESPN’s Turron Davenport notes, Titans receivers caught just 17% of their targets last season when facing press coverage. New offensive coordinator Brian Daboll (video link via Davenport) said he will address that concern schematically with more bunch formations and motions, and Daboll added that Tate’s presence will go a long way given what he was able to put on tape while in college.
Tennessee did find an EDGE later on in Day 1, trading back into the first round to land Auburn defensive end Keldric Faulk. The team then picked up linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. in the second round, so it quickly tended to both of the defensive positions that could have been targets at No. 4. Clearly, however, adding more weaponry to second-year quarterback Cam Ward’s arsenal was a top priority, and the Titans apparently feel they landed a complete player at the top of the draft board.
In addition to his press coverage acumen, the 6-foot, 192-pound Tate earned a reputation as an excellent route runner in his three years at Ohio State, where he caught 121 passes and 14 touchdowns in 39 games. His production took off after Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka turned pro, and he did not drop a pass in 2025, per Pro Football Focus.
The Titans also added free agent WR Wan’Dale Robinson to a receiver room that includes promising 2025 draftees Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike (along with second-year tight end Gunnar Helm). The team returns veteran wideout Calvin Ridley, whose 2025 campaign was cut short by a broken fibula.
Behind Ward on the QB depth chart are new acquisitions Mitchell Trubisky and Hendon Hooker, along with holdover Will Levis. Trubisky appears locked into a role as Ward’s top backup, leaving Levis and Hooker to battle for a QB3/practice squad spot. Levis’ future in Nashville has been called into question, but he remains on the roster for the time being.
Naturally, Daboll had nothing but positive things to say about his group of passers. As Terry McCormick of TitanInsider relays, Daboll praised Ward’s professional approach and Trubisky’s familiarity with his offensive system (the OC also believes Trubisky’s teammates can benefit from the former No. 2 overall pick’s history of ups and downs). Daboll added that Levis has picked up the system quickly and will benefit from the fresh start presented by Tennessee’s offseason regime change, and he said Hooker “looked good” in his tryout with the club.
Titans QB Cam Ward Expected To Participate In Minicamp
Cam Ward did not undergo surgery after suffering an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder during the Titans’ Week 18 contest. His recovery has of course been monitored closely since then, and progress continues to be made.
The Titans recently began their offseason program as one of the teams with a new head coach in place. Ward has been present while continuing his rehab, and no setbacks have been encountered. As long as that remains the case, 2025’s first overall pick will be able to participate in spring workouts.
“He’s been out there,” general manager Mike Borgonzi said on Thursday (via ESPN’s Turron Davenport). “I’m sure you’ve seen the videos of him throwing. He looks good.”
Ward is on track to take part in minicamp next month. Provided all goes well in that regard, he will be positioned for a full workload in training camp this summer. Ward’s health is obviously paramount to the Titans’ efforts to bounce back from a 3-14 2025 campaign. His presence was a key factor in Brian Daboll‘s decision to join Robert Saleh‘s coaching staff during this year’s hiring cycle, and a full stretch of acclimating to Daboll’s offense would set Ward up for a Year 2 jump.
Things did not go according to plan for Tennessee on offense last season, and it came as little surprise when Brian Callahan was fired midway through the campaign. Better play across the board will be required, including from Ward’s supporting cast but also the signal-caller himself. Ward will turn 24 next month, and his ability to develop into a franchise passer will be critical in determining the Titans’ level of success under Saleh. Reinforcements via the draft are forthcoming after Borgonzi and Co. made several big-ticket defensive additions on defense.
Bringing in notable defensive prospects will no doubt be a goal for next week’s draft, but Ward figures to have new faces around him when he is next on the field for full-team work. That is set to take place shortly.
Cam Ward To Resume Throwing In March
Despite taking an NFL-high 55 sacks in 2025, Titans quarterback Cam Ward managed to start every game of his rookie season. Last year’s first overall pick didn’t quite make it through the campaign unscathed, though. He suffered a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder in a Week 18 loss to the Jaguars, forcing an early exit in the season finale.
Ward, who did not require surgery, is on track in his recovery a month and a half later. The 23-year-old is about two or three weeks from throwing, according to Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network. In the meantime, Ward is focusing on lower-body work with his personal quarterbacks coach, Darrell Colbert Jr. Colbert told Wolfe that “they want to get Ward’s feet back right” before he resumes throwing.
Between the lack of weaponry around him and an in-season coaching change, Ward did not walk into an easy situation in Tennessee. During a 3-14 season, he completed 59.8% of passes for 3,169 yards, 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Ward posted a traditional 80.2 quarterback rating while finishing last among qualifying passers in QBR (33.2). He also checked in toward the bottom of the league in yards per attempt (5.9).
There is optimism Ward’s second year will go much better, and it begins with new head coach Robert Saleh‘s staff. Saleh hired an established offensive coordinator, Brian Daboll, to mold the Titans’ prized signal-caller.
Ward, cognizant of Daboll’s success with a young Josh Allen in Buffalo, is “very excited” to work with the coach, Wolfe reports. The two already began forming a rapport when Daboll was the Giants’ head coach during the pre-draft process last year, Wolfe adds. Ward was Daboll’s top-ranked QB then, and the Giants unsuccessfully tried to trade up from third overall to draft the Miami product.
New York, which drafted pass rusher Abdul Carter with its pick, later traded back into the first round to select former Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart at 25th overall. Dart began the season on the bench, but Daboll named him the starter in place of a struggling Russell Wilson in Week 4. Although Dart performed well under Daboll, the Giants fired the coach after a 2-8 start.
Despite a 20-40-1 record in three-plus seasons with the Giants, Daboll was under consideration for head coaching jobs with the Titans, Bills and Raiders in January. Those teams went in other directions, leaving Daboll to accept his fifth offensive coordinator gig in the pros. If Daboll works wonders with Ward in 2026, a second head coaching opportunity could be in the cards next winter.
Titans’ Cam Ward Was Major Draw For OC Brian Daboll
Brian Daboll seemed to have a number of options during this year’s coaching carousel. He received interest regarding three head coaching jobs and three offensive coordinator positions, including a HC interview with his former team, the Bills.
Ultimately, Daboll took the Titans’ offensive coordinator job under new head coach Robert Saleh. One of his main reasons for doing so was the presence of quarterback Cam Ward, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. The former No. 1 pick loomed large over Tennessee’s search for a new leader, both in terms of candidates’ interest in the job and the Titans’ interest in hiring them.
Daboll’s excitement about Ward is hardly surprising considering the Giants’ attempts to trade up to the first overall pick and take him last year. Daboll clearly believes in the young passer’s potential and jumped at the opportunity to work with him. Ward had a rough rookie year, but it became clear that he was the least of the Titans’ concerns. He could still see a major turnaround with a new coaching staff, similar to Drake Maye‘s sophomore leap this past season.
Daboll also built his coaching bonafides in Buffalo developing Josh Allen, which he parlayed into the top job in New York. Similar success with Ward could give him another chance at a head coaching gig.
Details On Titans’ Robert Saleh Hire
Although a report on Monday pegged Matt Nagy as the frontunner for the Titans’ head coaching position, the team instead hired Robert Saleh several hours later. Nagy and Saleh joined then-Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley as the Titans’ finalists, according to insider Jordan Schultz, who reveals the team never seriously considered Mike McCarthy despite interviewing him
Tennessee lost one of its finalists when the Dolphins hired Hafley as their head coach on Monday evening. Saleh, meanwhile, entered his Monday interview with the Titans needing to “win the job,” Albert Breer of SI.com writes.
In successfully landing the role, the former 49ers defensive coordinator secured a five-year contract, per Schultz. Because Saleh’s second stint in San Francisco only lasted one year, the 49ers will not receive draft compensation for losing him, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area notes.
Saleh’s summit with the Titans included a three-hour meeting with general manager Mike Borgonzi, president of football operations Chad Brinker, and several other members of their front office, Breer relays. Borgonzi made the recommendation to hire Saleh after his successful pitch to team brass.
Saleh impressed the group with a “detailed plan” on working with quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft. That included ideas on putting together the right offensive staff to maximize Ward’s potential. Saleh’s looking for a “CEO-type” offensive coordinator, Schultz says.
We already know Saleh’s offensive staff will not include Mike McDaniel, who developed a strong bond with Saleh when they coached together in San Francisco from 2017-20. Although Saleh had been in contact with McDaniel (via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN), the latter is on the cusp of becoming the Chargers’ offensive coordinator.
Given Ward’s importance to the organization, the Titans wanted all of their head coaching candidates to present a plan for Ward, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. With Saleh now in charge and McDaniel about to come off the board, former Giants head coach Brian Daboll is reportedly in the mix to take over as Ward’s next offensive coordinator.
The Titans interviewed Daboll for their head coaching job, but he may wind up taking on a key role as an assistant with the team. However, Daboll has another suitor in the Eagles, who are interested in him for their O-coordinator opening. He’s also a potential candidate for Buffalo’s head coaching job, which became available when the team unexpectedly fired Sean McDermott on Monday. Daboll spent 2018-21 as the Bills’ OC and aided in developing Josh Allen into an elite signal-caller. In bringing in Daboll to help Ward, the Titans would hope for similar results.
If Daboll doesn’t join Saleh’s staff, Breer identifies former Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury, Rams OC Mike LaFleur and Steelers OC Arthur Smith as other possibilities.
Kingsbury helped guide 2024 second overall pick Jayden Daniels to stellar results as a rookie, but multiple injuries largely prevented the dual-threat QB from building on that success this season. After Daniels played in just seven games in 2025, Kingsbury and the Commanders parted ways. Kingsbury has since drawn the attention of teams looking for head coaches and offensive coordinators.
LaFleur also worked with Saleh in San Francisco, though Breer is skeptical he’ll leave Los Angeles this offseason. Interestingly, LaFleur’s brother, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, played a role in the Titans’ decision to hire Saleh. After the Jets fired him as their head coach in October 2024, Saleh ended the season on LaFleur’s staff as an offensive consultant. LaFleur, one of Saleh’s closest friends, provided the Titans helpful feedback during their search.
Smith, a Nashville native, also interviewed for the Titans’ HC gig. Previously a Titans assistant from 2011-20, Smith held the OC role in his last two years with the organization before a three-season run as the Falcons’ head coach. While Smith is still on Pittsburgh’s staff, Mike Tomlin‘s resignation casts doubt on his future with the team.
Saleh will spend the coming weeks assembling his staff, a group he hopes will help produce better results than he generated in New York. The Jets canned Saleh after he posted an unsightly 20-36 record over three-plus seasons. While Saleh didn’t call the defensive plays with the Jets, that will change in his new home, which helps give the Titans confidence the 46-year-old will capitalize on his second chance as a head coach.
Saleh’s “energy and presence” helped win over owner Amy Adams Strunk, whose previous head coaching hire, Brian Callahan, contributed to the franchise’s recent slide. Now stuck in a four-year playoff drought, the Titans have gone a woeful 19-49 since 2022.
Titans QB Cam Ward Unlikely To Undergo Shoulder Surgery
Cam Ward avoided injuries throughout his rookie season until midway through Week 18. An injury to his throwing shoulder left the Titans without their starting quarterback to close out the campaign. 
Further testing took place on Monday in Ward’s case. An AC joint sprain was confirmed, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. As veteran Titans reporter Paul Kuharksy notes, it is unclear at this point if the injury is indeed a Grade 3 strain as was indicated yesterday. In any event, the team is viewing today’s updates as the best-case scenario.
It has been recommended to Ward that he avoid undergoing surgery. When speaking to the media on Monday, the 2025 No. 1 pick said (via Terry McCormick of TitansInsider.com) he is not certain at this point if he will have a procedure. Ward does not believe one will be necessary, though. With that matter still unclear at the moment, no firm timeline is in place.
For now, Ward’s attention will turn to rehabbing the injury. The 23-year-old will look to heal in full prior to the offseason program while preparing for his second year in Tennessee. It remains to be seen who his coach will be, but Ward will be expected to build off the momentum generated over the closing stages of the campaign. After throwing one interception in six straights games through September and October, he was picked off only once more the rest of the way.
Ward posted a passer rating of 80.2 and was sacked a league-leading 55 times in 2025. That illustrates the need for further improvement on offense – especially up front – along with development from the Washington State and Miami product. It remains to be seen if the necessary steps forward will be taken in 2026, but at least a lengthy recovery process will not be needed.
Titans’ Cam Ward Suffers Shoulder Injury
Titans quarterback Cam Ward‘s rookie season came to an unceremoniously early ending today when he exited today’s season finale with an injury. Ward has been initially diagnosed with a Grade 3 AC joint sprain in his right shoulder, per The Athletic’s Jeff Howe and Titans insider Paul Kuharsky.
Ward landed on shoulder of his throwing arm while reaching for the end zone on the Titans’ first drive of Sunday’s game in Jacksonville. Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun landed on top of the No. 1 overall pick, driving him harder into the ground. Ward briefly went into the blue tent before making his way to the locker room and was seen later on the sideline in sweats.
Despite the injury, the 23-year-old started every game for the Titans in his rookie campaign. Though Ward had appeared on the team’s injury report back in Week 4 with ankle/calf issues, and though Ward was the most-sacked quarterback in the NFL this year (55, tied with Raiders quarterback Geno Smith), Ward had played 100 percent of the team’s offensive snaps up to that point of the season. Backup quarterback Brandon Allen‘s first snaps today were Tennessee’s first offensive snaps without Ward on the field this year.
AC joint sprain recovery times vary depending on the degree of severity. A milder Grade 1 sprain may take a couple weeks to shake off, whereas a Grade 3 sprain could take several months to recover from. The team saw former starter Will Levis suffer an AC joint sprain early in his second year with the team. He was cleared after the Titans’ bye week and started the next game without missing any time, but he reaggravated the injury in his first game after the injury and was sidelined for the next three weeks. Levis underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in July before this season, but it’s unclear if the procedure was related to the AC joint sprain or a more recent injury.
Ward’s injury ended a rookie season that he will want to quickly move on from. Coming into the final week of the season, Ward ranked 25th in the NFL in passing yards per game and dead last in touchdowns per pass attempt. As mentioned above, he also led the league in sacks taken and yards lost from sacks. Many of these troubling stats can be attributed to Ward adjusting to the speed difference from college to the pros, but the quality of the players around him should not be ignored.
While Ward certainly needs to get the ball out quicker in certain situations, he was under pressure on 27.9 percent of his pass attempts, the third-highest percentage in the league. His receivers also racked up the 12th-most drops in the NFL and finished 27th in the NFL in yards after catch. Ward did show bright spots, though, like only throwing seven interceptions, good for an interception rate of 1.3 percent — the third-best such figure in the NFL this year. He also was able to keep plays alive with his legs and turn broken plays into highlights, something he was known to do in college, as well.
All-in-all, the Titans still believe that Ward is their franchise quarterback, but his development is going to be crucial as he looks to take another step forward in Year 2. The team will likely have Ward undergo some testing to determine the exact severity of today’s injury, and they’ll hope that the resulting recovery time won’t keep him from being available for OTAs in May.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
Titans’ Trade Deadline Approach Centered Around Cam Ward, Jeffery Simmons
The Titans had a couple different paths they could have followed in the runup to the trade deadline. Tied with the Saints for the worst record in the NFL, a fire sale of any desirable assets could have taken place. While they let teams know that every player on the roster but two was open for business, they ended up playing a bit of hardball, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
The two players off the table, of course, were rookie No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward and star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi faces an uphill battle in his efforts to turn around a team that has gone 4-22 over the past two seasons. In making his plan for how he’ll accomplish this feat, Bongonzi pointed to the team that has won three of the last six Super Bowls and their reliance on cornerstone pieces.
“So, you try to identify, at least I think Cam is one,” Borgonzi told reporters, per Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com. “You know, I think some of these rookies can be. I think Jeff is one. And I’m not going to go through every player on the roster, but you would try to identify maybe like three, four, five guys.”
He continued, “And you saw that in the past with Kansas City. It’s like the same four guys that have been there for that whole run there, right? And so, yeah, I do think there’s some cornerstone players here that can be part of this. Some of them are younger now, and they have to develop, and we need to continue to add to that.”
Specifically, he knows Ward needs to develop and improve, and his belief is that the rookie passer is doing so amidst struggles largely attributed to the quality of his supporting cast. The other rookies that may have a chance to establish themselves as cornerstone players with Ward are a trio of fourth-round pass-catchers. Receivers Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor and tight end Gunnar Helm have all established a strong connection with Ward early. They have a chance to continue to develop chemistry and provide some roster continuity for their fledgling quarterback.
Ward’s other top targets this year, wide receiver Calvin Ridley and tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo, were mentioned as trade candidates who might find homes with contenders for the right price. When no deals took place to move either player, it became apparent that, just because every player was available for a trade, it didn’t mean that they’d be cheap. Tennessee had shipped off cornerback Roger McCreary and pass rusher Dre’Mont Jones, netting a pair of fifth-round picks in exchange, but it was a different situation with the offensive pieces.
Because the team was prioritizing Ward’s growth and development, they couldn’t afford to let go of experienced offensive playmakers like Ridley and Okonkwo for nominal compensation. The Titans sought draft picks to assist in the continuation of their rebuild, but late-Day 3 pick swaps were not going to be enough to persuade them to relinquish those assets.
So, the deadline came and went with little noise on players deemed open for business. Borgonzi held on to the players he deemed valuable to the development of what he hopes will become a franchise QB, and he began his work of identifying potential cornerstone Titans.
Potential Fire Sale In Tennessee?
We are just over two weeks away from the NFL’s trade deadline, and as teams look around and assess what needs to be done in order to make the playoffs, phone calls are being made. One team perhaps receiving more calls than the rest of the league is the Titans. 
Starting the season with a 1-6 record and less than a week removed from firing ex-head coach Brian Callahan, Tennessee is clearly being counted out by the rest of the league. Despite the lack of elite talent that has put the Titans in this position, there are players that contending NFL teams are interested in. Most notably, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, “seemingly everyone called the Titans to see if star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons was available ahead of the…trade deadline.”
Unfortunately for those calling, the answer was a resounding no. Simmons is off limits, and he’s not the only one. The other player who would be a complete non-starter in any trade deal out of Nashville, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, is recent No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward. Tennessee drafted Ward with intentions of building their team around him, and they’re not going to give up on him after only seven games. Despite the team’s struggles early and Ward’s lack of production, the 23-year-old quarterback has shown flashes of brilliance and a drive and dedication that has others in the building excited.
As for Simmons, they’ve seen their 2019 first-round pick become one of the top players at his position. He’s currently in the second year of the four-year, $94MM extension that was tacked on to the end of his rookie deal, but many expect that he’s headed for a raise in the coming offseason. Simmons did leave today’s game with a hamstring injury, though, per ESPN’s Turron Davenport, so there’s a chance the calls for him might have slowed depending on the severity of the injury.
Essentially, Ward and Simmons will serve as the offensive and defensive pillars around which the team plans to build around. Aside from those two, though, Russini asserts that “the Titans are open for business on every” other player. At the moment, the most attractive trade targets in Tennessee appear to be on the defensive side of the ball. Cornerback Roger McCreary and outside linebackers Arden Key and Dre’Mont Jones could be players on the move soon, with Rapoport confirming that trio has drawn interest around the league.
A second-round pick in 2022, McCreary is playing in the final year of his rookie deal. McCreary has established himself as one of the league’s stronger nickelbacks, though he’s shown the ability to play on the outside, as well. Expecting that he’ll price himself out of Tennessee in free agency, the Titans would be hoping to get something for him now as opposed to losing him for nothing in the offseason.
Key looked early in his career to be a bit of a bust as a third-rounder out of LSU. Racking up only three sacks in his first three years of play, Key eventually found success in his fourth season and grew in his role more and more until he landed a three-year, $21MM deal with the Titans and became a full-time starter in the second season of that deal last year. Now in the contract’s final year, Key’s services will likely be shopped off with the hopes that he will continue his success with the contender to whom he gets traded.
Jones landed in Tennessee on a one-year, $8.5MM deal. He’s had consistently solid production at previous stops in Denver and Seattle and, so far this season, has been worth his money so far in Nashville. Like McCreary and Key, nothing appears to be awaiting Jones in the offseason but free agency, so the Titans will hope that somebody bites with an offer worth trading him for.
And what exactly would that offer look like? While the Titans have a lot of work to do in building up the roster around pillars Ward and Simmons, it would appear they prefer to do so with young players that they choose. Per Russini, Tennessee isn’t looking for players in exchange for any trade assets; the team wants draft capital. The Titans are hoping to stockpile future draft picks so they can move their rebuild plans forward with youth. We’ll see how well negotiations go over the next 16 days.
Latest On Titans’ QB Situation
Cam Ward has not officially won the Titans’ starting quarterback gig yet, but it remains the expectation that will be the case this summer. Beyond this year’s No. 1 pick, Tennessee has a number of interesting decisions to make. 
Returnee Will Levis saw some time with the first-team offense during spring practices, and he is thus a candidate to win the starting gig at training camp. More realistically, though, the former second-rounder is in line to begin the campaign as Tennessee’s backup. Trade rumors have swirled in Levis’ case, but new general manager Mike Borgonzi has insisted no efforts were made before or during the draft to move him.
Team reporter Jim Wyatt notes Levis can be penciled into the QB2 spot (pending a summer push on the part of an interested team to work out a trade). That would leave Ward in place to operate as Tennessee’s starter, with his development playing a central role in the team’s 2025 success. The Titans have two other passers in place entering training camp in the form of Brandon Allen and Tim Boyle.
Allen has familiarity with head coach Brian Callahan given their time spent together in Cincinnati. The 32-year-old has only made 18 appearances (and 10 starts) during his career, so he profiles as a No. 3 option at best. Wyatt notes Allen received more reps during the spring than Boyle, pointing to him having an advantage for the third-string gig. Presuming Boyle finishes the summer fourth on the depth chart, he will be a prime candidate to find himself amongst the team’s roster cuts.
Plenty of time remains for the pecking order at the quarterback spot to change, of course. How the four signal-callers fare during padded practices will make for one of the Titans’ top summer storylines. As things stand now, though, few surprises (if any) with respect to the depth chart should be expected.