NASHVILLE — Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward is owning his poor play through an 0-5 start. He isn’t hiding from the scrutiny that comes with it.

It is fair to say the Titans are not well equipped around the former No. 1 overall pick. 

However, Ward is also struggling with routine plays that a quarterback 22 starts into his career should be handling by now. Head coach Robert Saleh and the Titans are still searching for answers. For once, the offensive line does not appear to be the main problem.

Cam Ward is falling behind his peers

That’s a tough conversation to have about a young quarterback, especially one with Ward’s draft pedigree. It’s an important one, though.

Ward has more starts (22) than Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who went eighth overall a year earlier in the 2024 NFL draft. Injuries are part of the reason Penix hasn’t started as often, but it hasn’t taken him nearly as long to get up to speed. The same goes for Saints quarterback Tyler Shough, a member of Ward’s own draft class as a second-round pick who has looked more capable.

Ward plays in a division with the Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Indianapolis Colts. He has never won an AFC South game. Tennessee faces the Colts this week after Houston shellacked them Sunday night.

That loss was a big step backward across the board. 

Ward’s demeanor isn’t the Titans’ problem

Ward has been under plenty of duress on and off the field. To his credit, he seems completely unbothered by it.

Some will read that as a lack of care, or as Ward being too casual. 

I don’t think that’s true. I think he has the kind of demeanor you want from a starting quarterback and that was on display when he spoke to the media after the Texans loss.

“I’m not a loser,” said Ward. “The record may say that we are that right now, but at the end of the day you got to go through some stuff to try to get wins. I mean, we attack this each and every day, but I mean, for, for that, no. If you’re able to look at everybody in our locker room’s track record, we’ve all won games at a high level. We are looking forward to doing that in the long run.”

Plenty of people online didn’t like the question. Who cares? It’s a fair thing to ask of a winless team with a No. 1 overall pick at quarterback who isn’t producing in any way, shape, or form. Ward gave a professional answer.

Saleh has pointed to a bit of lingering PTSD as one reason Ward isn’t having more success, despite being the least-blitzed quarterback in football. Ward addressed that at practice on Wednesday:

“I don’t feel it at all,” Ward said after Wednesday’s practice. “The o-line really only got me sacked once last game, and then I still think at the end of the day, I should be able to avoid some of those. Those guys, they’ve been busting their tail since they got here. Coach “Carm” (offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo) has really helped them. He’s helped me, especially with, defining my drop in the pocket [and] where I need to sit so I don’t make it hard on Dan [Moore] and JC [Latham].

“I have all the confidence in the world in those guys. They (have) protected me for really five games. Because at the end of the day, they let somebody come free, I see it as a one-on-one. I gotta make them miss. They help me out a lot, so I gotta be able to help them too.”

The numbers behind Cam Ward’s struggles

Ward has a point about his protection. 

Outside of the Texans game, when Houston’s defense used the opportunity to get right against him, he has avoided the sacks he was taking last season. His pressure-to-sack rate of 16.7 percent ranks 19th among qualified quarterbacks.

Tennessee’s line has done its job. The quarterback has not.

Ward has thrown for 896 yards with three touchdown passes and three interceptions, adding two rushing touchdowns. His average depth of target sits at 7.1 yards. His average time to throw is 3.03 seconds, which is long for anybody in the NFL (regardless of experience). Per Pro Football Focus, Ward ranks 30th with only two big-time throws and has five turnover-worthy plays.

Ward has stayed level, and that’s what you want from your leader.

He cares. You can see it when he plays. He just simply hasn’t been good enough, and this season will be judged by whether the Titans can find the answers that unlock him. His next shot at a first AFC South win comes against the Colts this week.