TAMPA BAY — Joint training camp practices are invaluable opportunities for NFL teams. After a slow start against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, quarterback Cam Ward, the offense and defense all impressed those in attendance against a playoff-caliber roster.

That the two sides felt pretty even is a huge step for Tennessee, who finished 3-14 in 2024.

Cam Ward has strong showing in Tampa

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Most of you are here to read about the quarterback, and he acquitted himself well against Tampa’s defense.

In his first go at facing another NFL squad, Ward and his receiving options looked a little out of sorts in the first 7-on-7 period. He hit a nice deep ball to Calvin Ridley, who was no match for rookie Bucs corner Roman Parodie in coverage, and found Titans undrafted rookie Xavier Restrepo a few times for solid completions. Period 1 came with more lowlights than anything, however.

Then Ward got himself and his unit in gear.

With Tampa pass rusher Yaya Diaby bearing down on his left side, Ward roped one under duress to fellow rookie tight end Gunnar Helm for a throw that felt like his best of throw of the day. As a unit, Thursday may have been the team’s best low red zone work with Ward finding Bryce Oliver first for a score and fourth-round pick Chimere Dike for another. The two-minute drill portion was not as clean, with Ward’s first pass of the session being intercepted by Haason Reddick, but he fought through and found ways to put the offense in advantageous positions.

It was the first interception Ward has thrown in the last three practices.

“I think things went good,” Ward said after practice. “We battled adversity throughout the day, but that’s going to come with the game of football. We responded well on both sides of the ball. Defense had a good day. We had a good day on offense. So, I’m glad we got some good work in against a good team.

Fight!

Kind of.

Tennessee linebacker Cody Barton, Bucs linemen Graham Barton and Cody Mauch and Titans edge Dre’Mont Jones had a little shoving match at one point in the two-minute period. Defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons entered the fray to break things up, but was shoved in the back as he did so, causing the Tennessee’s bench to clear and Tampa’s in response. Officials, coaches and players worked to clear it up in less than a minute and practice continued unabated for the remainder of the morning.

Corner Jarvis Brownlee also had words with some chirpy Bucs fans in the stands that Bucs security got between with haste.

Talking to several people with the team after the fact, the Titans were completely fine with both back-and-forths. Tennessee’s roster is filled with youth and inexperience. Testing them both on the field and off of it was a part of the exercise in Tampa. Team officials were pleased with the way that their players responded.

James Proche MUST be the Titans punt returner

Bad things happen when anyone but receiver James Proche is back fielding punts for the Titans.

Thursday’s practice was the first opportunity both media and the coaches have had to watch the special teams units work in fully-padded 11-on-11 drills. Proche, a PFWA All-Rookie punt returner in 2020, is the most experienced and reliable option that the team has between 2024 sixth-round pick Jha’Quan Jackson, running back Tyjae Spears and UDFA Restrepo. His ability to field the punt cleanly and be patient as his blockers set up lanes for him was noticeably better than the rest of his competition in Tampa.

Proche, a free-agent acquisition this offseason, has 68 career punt returns for 591 yards.

Featured Image: USA TODAY Sports.