NASHVILLE — Carnell Tate just had his best practice as a Tennessee Titans rookie. The trend building between him and quarterback Cam Ward should excite Titans fans.

Sunday’s session was dominant for the 4th overall pick.

Tate hauled in three touchdown receptions from Ward alone, working over the team’s trio of top cornerbacks on the roster with relative ease. He caught a touchdown over starting nickel Marcus Harris, and made plays against cornerbacks Alontae Taylor and Cor’Dale Flott.

The thing that was true about Tate as a college standout at Ohio State, the trait that made him the top wide receiver selected in this year’s NFL Draft, continues to hold serve. He can catch just about anything thrown his way. He is the best wide receiver on the roster.

Cam Ward and Carnell Tate are stacking productive days together

Ward had a productive day himself.

He threw two touchdowns in the red zone period, both to Tate. Backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky also got things going in that stretch. Third-string passer Will Levis did not throw any touchdowns in the red zone drills on Sunday.

The connection between Carnell Tate and Cam Ward is the one Tennessee needs most.

Ward never developed that kind of chemistry with a target on the Titans practice field last season. The expectation was that veteran Calvin Ridley would fill that role, and it looked like something was building during last year’s training camp. It never manifested in the regular season. Ridley dealt with hamstring issues throughout the year and ultimately fractured his leg in one of the final regular season games. 

It never got off the ground.

Training camp can tell lies from time to time. The Ward-to-Tate connection cannot be one of them. It is critical to the success of this football team in 2026. Every rep they get together matters.

Quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney sees the consistency building

We spoke to Titans quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney on Sunday about the positive trends they’re seeing from Ward as well as what they’re continuing to work on with the second-year quarterback.

Tierney said the staff likes what it is seeing but knows there is still work to do.

“Yeah, you know, it’s good to see the progress that we’ve had,” said Tierney. “The thing that we’re just looking for is consistency. That’s what we’ve been preaching the last, really since we got here in April. So, with the consistency coming along, that’s what you want.”

Asked whether Ward’s footwork in particular is becoming more consistent, Tierney offered an important distinction.

“Yeah, and I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily about— his feet were really good when we got here. I don’t think we tried to do too much with that. I just think understanding the routes that we’re trying to throw with his feet are more so that. I think there’s a little nuance to, you know, a 3-step drop isn’t just a 3-step drop. Different timings, different rhythms, different tempos, all that. I think he’s come to understand that really well. So, (we’re) happy with where he’s at with that.”

The coaching staff is not looking to overhaul Ward’s mechanics.

The adjustments are about understanding the nuance of a system that has defined rules and defined constructs for each position but also allows for flexibility. To a man, players have told us the scheme allows for variance, the ability to make plays and find positive gains without sticking to the exact script.

The first preseason game in San Francisco on Thursday will be Tennessee’s first chance to see Ward, Tate, and the rest of the starters tested against competition that does not share a locker room with them.

Starters are very much expected to play, so we should get to see what the connection looks like under the lights when things kick off Thursday.