BREAKING NEWS: Tennessee Titans Quarterback Cam Ward Heads To Locker Room Following Injury
UPDATE: Cam Ward has been ruled out for the remainder of the Week 18 game.
It is Week 18 in the NFL. It’s that strange time of year when half the league is hyperventilating over playoff scenarios, and the other half is mentally browsing Airbnb listings. The Tennessee Titans firmly fall into that second category, but nobody told Cam Ward that this was a throwaway game.
The Titans came into Jacksonville looking to play spoiler. A win for the Jaguars secures the AFC South title; a loss opens the door for chaos. Tennessee clearly didn’t get the memo to roll over, but their upset bid just hit a massive, painful speedbump.
Ward Suffers Shoulder Injury On Touchdown Run
The 23-year-old rookie quarterback has been one of the few reasons to tune into Titans games down the stretch. He proved why early in the first quarter, scrambling his way into the end zone to put Tennessee up 7-0. It was the kind of play that makes you excited for the franchise’s future—athletic, decisive, and bold.
Unfortunately, it came with a cost. Ward took a massive shot at the end of the play. It is the kind of hit that makes the entire stadium go quiet for a second, regardless of which jersey you’re wearing.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Ward didn’t just shake it off. He was spotted heading straight for the tunnel with the training staff. The official word from the team is a shoulder injury, and he is currently listed as questionable to return. Knowing how NFL teams handle rookie quarterbacks in meaningless Week 18 games, “questionable” might be code for “see you in OTAs.”
Backup Brandon Allen Steps In For Ward
With Ward getting looked at in the bowels of EverBank Stadium, the Titans have turned the keys over to Brandon Allen. It is a tough break for the offense. You lose that dynamism, that ability to create something out of nothing that the rookie brings to the table.
For Jacksonville, this is the break they desperately needed. Moments after Ward exited, Trevor Lawrence woke up and marched the Jags down the field, connecting with Parker Washington for a 23-yard strike to knot the game at 7-7. You could practically feel the collective blood pressure of Duval County drop 10 points.
The Bigger Picture For Cam Ward
You hate to see a season end like this, even if there are only three quarters of football left in it. Ward has had a rocky rookie campaign, but he’s shown flashes. Taking a hit like that to score a touchdown in a meaningless game speaks volumes about his competitiveness.
If this is indeed the end of the day for Ward, the Titans enter the offseason with a bunch of questions, but perhaps a bit more clarity at the most important position in sports. Now, the rest of the team just has to try and hold off a Jaguars team that suddenly smells blood in the water.
