Here's what numbers say about Cam Ward's role in Titans' horrid start, and if he's getting worse

Cam Ward isn't the Tennessee Titans' biggest problem right now, but it's reaching a point where his play can be described as part of the problem.

Ward completed just 10 of 26 pass attempts for 108 yards with no touchdowns and an interception in the Titans' 26-0 loss to the Houston Texans on Sept. 28. It was the second time in four games he's been held below completing 50% of his passes, and the third time he's failed to reach 200 yards passing. Growing pains are to be expected for a rookie quarterback, but no No. 1 quarterback picked this century who's started from Day 1 has thrown fewer touchdowns in their first month than Ward.

"We just need him to do his part as one of the 11 guys in the field, and again, got to do things around him better too," Titans coach Brian Callahan said. "But you always want to be careful of trying to do too much. That's usually when bad things happen, when you try to make a different, a bigger play or a more exciting play because you think you have to."

Four games into his career, Ward's hardly lived up to his No. 1 pick pedigree. Of the 11 quarterbacks picked No. 1 overall since 2000 who threw at least 100 passes in their first four games as pros, Ward ranks last in yards (614), passer rating (63.9), completion percentage (51.2%), yards per attempt (4.9), sack rate (11.97% of dropbacks) and touchdown percentage (1.6%).

Using adjusted net yardage per attempt ― a stat that synthesizes yards, completion percentage, touchdowns, interceptions and sacks ― Ward is a full yard per play behind most of his peers, and a distant last behind 2023 and 2024 No. 1 picks Bryce Young and Caleb Williams (3.13 versus 3.71 and 3.46).

Consider Ward's performances outside the context of being a rookie and simply inside the framework of being an NFL quarterback in 2025 and there's a solid argument toward Ward being the least productive passer in football thus far. Among the 27 quarterbacks who've dropped back at least 100 times this year, Ward ranks 26th in passer rating, 27th in completion percentage and yards per attempt and tied for last in touchdowns.

More alarmingly, he doesn't seem to be getting better. As the Titans' team-wide early-season issues have seemed to recede, Ward's play has continued to dip. His season-lows for completions and yards came in Week 4 even as the Titans allowed their lowest sack count, were flagged for their lowest penalty count and didn't drop any passes.

"I think it would be hard to put a regression tag on four starts," Callahan said. "I think that would be tough. I think he's learning every time he goes out there."

Callahan said he has been impressed with the way Ward has learned to manage defenses, respond to challenges, protect himself and get the ball where it needs to go. But he said there are still areas with timing, accuracy and footwork where Ward needs to get better.

"You don't just arrive in the NFL a perfect product like that," Callahan said. "But man, he puts the time into it. He works at it and he understands it. And now it's just to continue to build on the things that he's done well and to keep stacking that stuff."

Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at  nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X @nicksuss. Subscribe to the Talkin’ Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Blame Cam Ward? How much fault does Titans' No. 1 pick have in slow start?