Cam Ward gets another start after struggling in Titans' preseason opener, and fails to impress again

Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward took to the field for a second preseason game, but his performance didn't provide any reassurance for concerns about his progress heading into his second season. The first NFL game of Ward's career was a far cry from the showcase he was expected to be. The Titans hadn't played a regular-season game last season, and this preseason matchup against the Seahawks was a prime-time event on Fox.

The game wasn't a close-up inspection. Despite being the first overall pick in last year's draft, Ward's performance was lackluster. He completed a few quick passes but failed to generate much else. Ward appeared to be fairly uncomfortable unless he was making a quick decision, throwing the ball on his first read. He finished 8 of 12 for 69 yards.

He was pulled from the game before the second quarter had even begun. While the numbers weren't terrible, they certainly weren't impressive. Ward completed simple passes on his initial drive, which was against the Seahawks' backups. He moved the ball quickly on a few run-pass option plays. He connected with Tony Pollard on a flare route out of the backfield, resulting in a 33-yard gain.

However, his attempts to throw downfield were off-target, with rookie Carnell Tate unable to catch an incompletion that was a bit too far outside. Ward also missed a pass intended for Elic Ayomanor by a few yards before Ayomanor failed to secure a pass interference penalty on the underthrown pass. The Titans settled for a field goal.

Cam Ward just threw one up to nobody. Preseason games are just that - preseason. The Titans didn't have a regular-season game last season, and this was their first NFL game of the season. Ward's performance, while not terrible, didn't showcase the progress he was expected to make. Tennessee Titans coach Robert Saleh indicated that the starters might play the entire first half in their second preseason game, likely due to Ward's struggles and the Titans' new offense coordinated by Brian Daboll.

Ward had a promising rookie season, but he also had notable struggles. The environment around him wasn't ideal, and there were concerns about his comfort level. Saleh seemed unfazed, stating that Ward just needed more "time on task." However, with only one preseason game left and many teams not using starters in the finale, it remains to be seen if Ward will provide the breakout performance the Titans were hoping for.