‘They mismanaged Cam Ward’: NFL insider makes strong case against starting Titans QB Cam Ward right now
Ari Meirov and former Steelers cornerback Bryant McFadden, now a CBS Sports analyst, used a conversation Meirov posted to X on Thursday to weigh in on how the Tennessee Titans have handled Cam Ward, with the team winless through three games and three days away from a trip to Baltimore.
“They mismanaged Cam Ward from jump,” McFadden said. “… You gave him the keys to a car that didn’t have an engine. And you told him as a first-time car driver to take us where we need to go. How?!”
Meirov wrote alongside the clip that playing Ward right now is doing more harm than good, a view that puts him at odds with the Titans’ own coaching staff.
Feb 28, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA;Miami quarterback Cam Ward (QB15) talks to the press during the 2025 NFL Combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephanie Amador Blondet-Imagn Images
As a rookie in 2025, Ward tied Raiders quarterback Geno Smith for the most sacks taken in the league with 55. Titans head coach Robert Saleh, in his first season in Nashville, has said Ward’s footwork holds up early in games and slips as they wear on, and he offered an explanation for it.
“You got to remember the young man was sacked however many times last year, so I’m sure there’s some PTSD there,” Saleh said.
That is a head coach describing damage done before he arrived, and it is the strongest support for the argument Meirov and McFadden are making. If the habits Saleh sees were built behind a line that let Ward get sacked 55 times, then more snaps behind an offense averaging about 12 points a game risk deepening them.
“They mismanaged Cam Ward from jump. … You gave him the keys to a car that didn’t have an engine. And you told him as a first-time car driver to take us where we need to go. How?!”
Playing Cam Ward right now is doing more harm than good. Discussed this with @BMac_SportsTalk: https://t.co/QsfRMWpHRQpic.twitter.com/UNZs9u0hEh
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 1, 2026
Will the Titans actually sit Cam Ward?
Asked after Sunday’s 12-7 loss to the Giants whether he had considered benching Ward for Mitchell Trubisky, Saleh said no, even while criticizing the end-zone interception to Jevon Holland that sealed the defeat with 24 seconds left.
“He’s out in the open field, just be smarter with the football,” Saleh said. “We’ve got two timeouts left, it’s first and goal on the 8. We’re gonna score, you don’t need to force it in that situation. Unfortunately it happened.”
Ward is 3-17 as a starter and learning a new offense under first-year coordinator Brian Daboll. Saleh’s answer stands for now, and Ward is in line to make his 21st career start on Sunday against the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.
Dec 14, 2024; New York, NY, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward speaks on stage during a press conference before the 2024 Heisman Trophy Presentation. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images
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Source: sports.yahoo.com — article syndicated from the publisher’s feed; all rights remain with the original publisher.