Cam Ward struggles in the Titans' 19-13 preseason win over the 49ers
Cam Ward struggled in three drives for Tennessee against San Francisco's backup defense and the Titans went on to beat the 49ers 19-13 in the exhibition opener for both teams Thursday night. Tony Pollard ran for a touchdown and Joey Slye kicked four field goals for the Titans, with three coming from at least 50 yards out. First-year Tennessee coach Robert Saleh played most of his starters in his…
Santa Clara, California witnessed the Tennessee Titans' preseason victory over the San Francisco 49ers with a score of 19-13 on Thursday night. Cam Ward, the Titans' starting quarterback, struggled in three drives, failing to connect on eight of his eight passes for just 23 yards. The Titans' victory was largely attributed to Tony Pollard's touchdown run and Joey Slye's four field goals, three of which were made from 50 yards or beyond.
First-year coach Robert Saleh played most of his starters in his debut game, while 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan opted to keep most of his top-line players on the bench, having already practiced with them on Tuesday. San Francisco's defense, described as a "backup" unit, held the Titans to a total of 15 yards on their two subsequent drives, during which Cam Ward failed to find any of his targets, including No. 4 overall pick Carnell Tate, who had three targets but was unsuccessful in all three attempts.
Kurtis Rourke, who had missed the entire previous season due to knee surgery, showcased his skills in his professional debut with 12 completions for 101 yards and three rushes for 14 yards. Rourke's performance was particularly noteworthy in his final drive, culminating in a 1-yard touchdown run by Patrick Taylor Jr. that secured the victory.
Following the game, Rourke had to leave due to a rib injury. First-year coach Kyle Shanahan returned to his regular spot on the sideline for the 49ers, marking his first game since a recent car crash that left him with a concussion, sidelining him during the team's training camp. In terms of punting, Corliss Waitman, the 49ers' primary punter, outperformed his San Francisco counterpart Jack Bouwmeester, who had been cut earlier in the week.
Waitman's first two punts were downed inside the 10-yard line, and he averaged 43.5 yards on his four punts without any returns. Injuries sustained during the game included a right hand injury for San Francisco cornerback Jack Jones, who left the game on the opening drive. The Titans are set to host the Seattle Seahawks on August 23, while the 49ers will face off against the Los Angeles Chargers the following Thursday.
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