It comes with the territory. Rookies are supposed to look raw, supposed to take sacks, supposed to make you wonder if the team drafted the right guy. That’s the cycle. Fans groan, coaches preach patience, and every now and then you catch just enough of a glimpse to keep believing.
Cam Ward has lived the script. Three starts, three losses. He’s been sacked 15 times, more than anyone in the league. If that sounds bad, it’s also entirely predictable. Caleb Williams got dropped 68 times last season. Bryce Young ate 62 the year before. Troy Aikman? Thanksgiving Day, 1989 — Buddy Ryan sent wave after wave, and the rookie wound up on the ground 11 times. Even legends start out humbled.
C.J. Stroud felt like the exception in 2023. His rookie stat line was dazzling , 23 touchdowns, five picks, all delivered with the poise of a ten-year vet. Now? Stroud looks like the rookie. He hasn’t thrown for more than 207 yards this season. Ward, for all the early bruises, actually has the edge there with a 219-yard day against the Colts. Neither has provided fireworks. The offenses feel stuck in neutral.
C.J. Stroud says he's not on social media and wasn't aware that many #Houston #Texans fans were upset seeing him wearing a Yankees cap.
— Jason Bristol (@JBristolKHOU) September 25, 2025
"I don't think I'm being disrespectful. If I was being disrespectful, then that's a whole different case."
@KHOU pic.twitter.com/WbictndZiI
Still, when you ask around Tennessee, the mood isn’t sour. The voice of the Titans, Taylor Zarzour, is convinced the foundation is there.
“The Titans know this is a hard reset. They need to build the team around Cam and their youngest players are the guys that will make this a competitive team once again. They love what they have in Cam, from the potential on the field, to the way that he prepares.”
Ask around about who sets the tone, and Zarzour is quick to point back to Ward. “He gives everything he has to the team, every single day. He’s a coach’s dream. He listens to feedback, and he’s the first guy on the practice field each day. We have to literally wait for him to finish his work, before they can clear the field. He’s an exceptional hard worker. It’s a shame they’re 0-3 and they’re desperate for a win, but big picture wise, everyone in the organization believes that he’ll be the guy leading the Titans back to the top of the division and the playoffs.”
The losses will keep the critics loud. The sacks will keep piling up. But if you’re looking for something that separates Ward from the usual rookie churn, it’s not in the box score, it’s in how long he lingers on the practice field after everyone else has gone home:
More News:
- Willie Fritz reacts to Houston’s epic win
- Oregon State’s Bray eyes victory
- Dangerous field storm follows Virginia upset of Florida State
- Tony Elliott hails Cavaliers’ fight
- Dangerous field storm follows Virginia win over Florida State