The best ability is availability, and for almost all of the 2025 regular season, Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward had remained available. Until Week 18.
The first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft became the only rookie quarterback to start all 17 games for his team this season when he took the field against the Jacksonville Jaguars to begin Week 18. He hadn’t missed an offensive snap for Tennessee all season, but at the end of the Titans’ first offensive drive, Ward exited the game with an injury.
The Titans have since ruled him out for the game with a shoulder injury.
Ward rushed for a seven-yard touchdown to cap off a 58-yard drive but got banged up as he dove for the goal line. The quarterback remained on the ground for an extra moment after the play but eventually was able to walk back to the sideline.
Fox’s broadcast showed Ward entering the blue medical tent with some trainers moments later, and he ended up walking back to the locker room after an initial evaluation.
Cam Ward injury update
The Titans QB is listed as out of the game with a shoulder injury following the awkward tackle.
Ward dove forward to cross the goal line on a seven-yard rush off of a read-option play to give the Titans an early 7-0 lead, but he landed hard on his shoulder and had a defender land on him after he hit the ground. The result was a quick evaluation on the sideline in his team’s blue medical tent before Ward returned to the locker room with trainers.
Brandon Allen is Ward’s backup in Tennessee, and he entered the game to begin the Titans’ second drive. The first play of that possession was also the first offensive play that Tennessee ran without its rookie quarterback all season. Ward had managed to stay healthy for 17+ weeks before sustaining his shoulder injury on a scoring play to open the game.
Allen will take the Titans the rest of the way in Week 18 with Ward out for the game.
Cam Ward stats
Ward has had an up-and-down rookie season with the Titans this year. Here’s how his numbers looked through 16 starts in 17 weeks:
Completion rate: 320-of-537 (59.6%)
Passing yards: 3,117
Passing touchdowns: 15
Interceptions: 7
Passer rating: 79.8
Sacks: 55 taken for 410 yards lost (both marks lead NFL)
Rushing: 148 yards on 37 attempts (4.0 yards per attempt) and one touchdown
Titans QB depth chart
Tennessee has two quarterbacks on its active roster, and the Titans have another who has been on injured reserve for the entire season.
Cam Ward (out – shoulder)
Brandon Allen
Will Levis (IR – shoulder)
Ward was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and had played every offensive snap for the Titans before his injury on Jan. 4. Allen will take Tennessee to the end of its Sunday game (and the regular season).
Levis has been on season-ending injured reserve since July, when he underwent surgery on his throwing shoulder.
This story will be updated.