Robert Saleh’s answers about not benching Titans QB Cam Ward lack major self-awareness about the organization he coaches for
Robert Saleh continues to push back against the idea of benching Cam Ward and it’s not the best look when considering the Titans’ recent track record.
NASHVILLE — Tennessee Titans coach Robert Saleh was asked Sunday about benching 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward. The questions come on the heels of Tennessee’s 0-5 start to the 2026 season after a 26-3 loss to the previously 0-4 Houston Texans.
I asked Saleh the same thing two weeks ago after the Titans lost a 12-7 road game to the New York Giants.
“No, not with Cam,” said Saleh. “Cam’s our starting quarterback. We’re going to give him every opportunity to be successful this year. And we’re going to continue working with him, grinding with him, and trying to help him get better.”
In any normal organization, that is the correct approach. Benching Ward makes no football sense.
This is not a normal organization. Controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk has fired people left and right, cited the record every time, and shown a level of impatience that is rare in the modern NFL. Saleh is off to a worse start than the fired coach Brian Callahan who was fired six weeks into his second season.
Does Saleh really think he’ll get a longer leash than everyone else? For the job he took, self-awareness is critical.
Asked what a lopsided home loss to a winless team said about where Tennessee stands, Saleh offered another answer that missed the moment.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do, and one game is not going to define us,” Saleh said. “We’re going to continue to work. I’m going continue to find ways to get better, and this organization and team will have its day in the sun.”
Is one game defining this team?
No. Five games are. Five games that ended in five losses and the franchise’s first 0-5 start since 2009z Nobody is judging the Titans on Sunday alone, embarrassing as it was.
A follower on Twitter pointed out additional context about how bad Saleh’s Titans are failing.
The Titans have played the Jets, who are now a middling 2-3. They lost to the Philadelphia Eagles who are clearly in a tear-down year. Jameis Winston led the Giants to a victory against lowly Tennessee after Ward threw a red zone interception to end the game. The Baltimore Ravens didn’t even need starting quarterback Lamar Jackson or a single second-half point to get by the Titans by a score of 24-18. Then there’s the Texans, who were a touchdown road favorite this week despite not having an NFL win.
To not win one of those games is abysmal.
