No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward made his NFL debut on Sunday as the Tennessee Titans played the Denver Broncos. While the game was close, the Broncos outlasted the Titans 20-12.
It was a tough draw for Ward, as Denver's defense is one of the best units in the entire league. Not only that, but Ward had to travel to Denver in September, which is when the Broncos have historically dominated their competition.
That played out on the field, as the Titans offense as a whole had issues dealing with Denver's fearsome defense. Despite starting many drives in Broncos territory, Tennessee scored just 12 points overall without reaching the end zone.
Here's a look at how Ward fared in his first official NFL game.
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Cam Ward grades
Grade: C-
Ward ran into a difficult Broncos defense in Week 1, which made for a tough beginning to his NFL career. Denver held Ward without a touchdown on the day, as the Titans offense settled for four field goals for its scoring.
Things will get easier for Ward moving forward, as there is a chance the Broncos represent the toughest defense he faces throughout the year. For now, though Denver gave Ward a rough "Welcome to the NFL" moment.
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Cam Ward stats
Completions/Attempts: 12/25
Passing yards: 112
Touchdowns: 0
Turnovers: 1
Sacks: 6
Passer rating: 60.8
Ward was inconsistent on the day, completing less than 50 percent of his passes while throwing for just 112 yards total. He also didn't score a touchdown, and he didn't even lead the Titans to a touchdown-scoring drive.
If there was one area that Ward could build off, he didn't turn the ball over until the last play, when he fumbled on fourth down while trying to make something happen.
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Cam Ward highlights
Despite his struggles, Ward did have several nice plays on Sunday that showed why he was the No. 1 pick. He began the game with a nice escape from a muddy pocket, finding running back Tony Pollard as a check-down option.
A little third down magic from @Cameron7Ward to @Tp__5 for a gain of 29! 🪄
📺: #TENvsDEN on @NFLonFOX & NFL+ pic.twitter.com/KNEJTYG0ca
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) September 7, 2025
Ward also connected with Calvin Ridley multiple times in the game, as Ridley represents Ward's top receiving option.
Cam Ward 🎯 Calvin Ridley
TENvsDEN on FOXhttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/8teXEHe7cN
— NFL (@NFL) September 7, 2025
When Ward had time to throw, he showed off the talent that made him the top pick in the draft with Miami last season.
Cam Ward dart 🎯
TENvsDEN on FOXhttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/SUxjHJFYH1
— NFL (@NFL) September 7, 2025
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