The Titans will have another chance to earn their first win of the season in Week 3 when they take on the Indianapolis Colts. If Cam Ward and his teammates clean up the penalties, then they could potentially earn a win.
0–2 Start Doesn’t Shake Titans HC Brian Callahan’s Faith in Rookie QB Cam Ward
Posted September 16, 2025
Titans QB Cam Ward draws praise from coach Brian Callahan despite early struggles, as Tennessee looks for its first win after an 0-2 start.
Following a 0-2 start, the Tennessee Titans are still searching for rhythm, coming off a 33-19 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2. Mistakes and penalties again set the tone, with Tennessee failing to break the 20-point mark for the second straight week.
After the game, rookie quarterback Cam Ward admitted that the offense's biggest roadblock has been the constant third-and-long situations, noting that staying ”ahead of the sticks” is essential if the Titans hope to put together consistent drives.
Head coach Brian Callahan echoed that sentiment but stressed that Ward is progressing in other areas. According to Jim Wyatt and shared on X, formerly Twitter, Callahan said Ward ”is seeing the field really well” despite missed opportunities.
The coach added that ball security must improve, but highlighted the rookie's ability to make accurate throws under pressure. For a young quarterback, the message was clear: the Titans expect him to keep getting better each week.
The penalties, however, remain a glaring issue. After 13 flags in Week 1 against Denver, Tennessee committed another 10 against Los Angeles. Both sides of the ball have struggled with discipline, something Callahan and Ward both know has to be fixed for the team to turn things around.
Ward has shown flashes, including his first career touchdown pass to fellow rookie Elic Ayomanor, a highlight-reel throw across his body that wowed teammates and fans alike.
Despite the growing pains, Cam Ward has refused to criticize teammates for dropped passes or miscues. Instead, he emphasized accountability, explaining that ”bad plays are going to happen” and that the key is moving forward with a next-play mentality. His leadership has drawn praise, even as the offense continues to sputter.
The Titans return home in Week 3 to face the Indianapolis Colts. With back-to-back games at Nissan Stadium, Ward now has the perfect opportunity to steady the offense and potentially deliver his first NFL win.
Cam Ward reveals biggest problem with Titans’ offense amid 0-2 start
Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward reveals the biggest problem the offense has after starting 0-2 on the season.
The Tennessee Titans fall to 0-2 after suffering a 33-19 Week 2 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. It was another frustrating loss as penalties and mistakes were the story of the matchup. It was the second contest where Tennessee failed to reach 20 points scored. Quarterback Cam Ward spoke after the game, revealing the biggest struggles the offense has had early in the season.
During the postgame press conference, the 23-year-old rookie admitted that being put in third-and-long situations has hurt the Titans' offense as a whole, according to Turron Davenport of ESPN. However, Ward did claim that he's confident in head coach Brian Callahan's play-calling ability.
“I think that's the biggest thing about us right now. Every time we get behind the sticks, we end up shooting ourselves in the foot,” said Cam Ward. “Whether we got a point, or we're not getting points, I think the biggest thing is we stay behind the sticks. That's stuff that I've noticed, and especially in the NFL, it's hard to overcome that. We gotta stay in front of the sticks, stay on schedule, and the more we do that, the more successful drives we'll have.”
Penalties have been a sore spot for Tennessee so far. After committing 13 penalties in the 20-12 Week 1 loss to the Denver Broncos, the Titans turned around and committed 10 penalties against the Rams. Both sides of the ball have struggled with flags, as the team has been a bit undisciplined to begin the season.
Despite that, Cam Ward has looked promising to begin his career. Although his completion percentage is well below par (50.8%), most of that can be attributed to bad drops from his wide receivers. Through two games played so far, the former No. 1 pick has thrown for 287 yards and a touchdown.
Cam Ward's first career touchdown was a wild one, as he somehow managed to throw the ball across his shoulders to the opposite side of the field to fellow rookie Elic Ayomanor. It was an impressive play, as the ball dropped right in Ayomanor's hands despite a Rams defender right on his tail.
J.J. McCarthy Injury Could Lead Vikings to Reunite With 29-Game NFL Starter
The Minnesota Vikings find themselves in a unique position following a difficult loss to the Atlanta Falcons Sunday night, which included an injury to starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
McCarthy experienced serious growing pains across his first two NFL games, committing four turnovers and leading the offense to just 12 points total in seven of the eight quarters he’s played — save for a 21-point effort in the fourth period against the Chicago Bears in Week 1 that led to an improbable comeback victory.
Minnesota would probably prefer to just let McCarthy struggle until he finds a consistent rhythm, but an ankle injury against the Falcons is now going to sideline him for between two and four games, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.
That means Carson Wentz will start for the Vikings against the Cincinnati Bengals in Minneapolis next Sunday, while undrafted rookie Max Brosmer will elevate into the QB2 role. Given McCarthy’s potentially extended absence, the Vikings are likely to add another quarterback to the roster.
A handful of veterans remain available in free agency, and Minnesota should look for a signal-caller with some starting experience given that one injury to Wentz is all that stands between Brosmer and leading a 14-win roster from 2024 into the teeth of this season’s schedule.
One name that makes sense is Taylor Heinicke, a former starter for the Washington Commanders who has posted a 3,400-yard season and been teammates with Wentz before.
Taylor Heinicke Began Career With Vikings, Found Sustained Success With Commanders
Heinicke actually began his professional career in Minnesota as an undrafted rookie in 2015. However, he didn’t see the field for the first time until he was a member of the Houston Texans two years later.
Now 32 years old, Heinicke spent 2018 with the Carolina Panthers, was out of the league the following season and then caught on with Washington in 2020. He spent three years with the Commanders, appearing in 26 games and starting 24 of those.
Heinicke earned a record of 7-8 in 2021, tallying 3,419 passing yards along with 20 TDs and 15 INTs. Wentz replaced Heinicke as the Commanders’ starting QB the following year, though broke his finger in Week 6.
As a result, Heinicke came back into the starting lineup and earned a record of 5-3-1 in Wentz’s absence. Wentz finished that season 2-5 as the starter. Both moved on to backup roles with new teams the following year: Heinicke joining the Atlanta Falcons and Wentz teaming up with the Los Angeles Rams.
For his career (42 games played, 29 starts), Heinicke has tallied 6,663 passing yards, 39 TDs and 28 INTs. He most recently inked a one-year deal worth $2.5 million to remain with Los Angeles Chargers in March, the team for which Heinicke played in 2024, though L.A. released him ahead of cutdown day in late August.
Vikings Confirm J.J. McCarthy Will Not Play Against Bengals
Head coach Kevin O’Connell spoke with reporters on Monday, September 15, essentially ruling McCarthy out for Week 3 against the Bengals.
https://x.com/Vikings/status/1967664216342458849
“J.J. McCarthy did come in very, very sore today with the ankle sprain. I would anticipate we are not planning on having him for Sunday,” O’Connell said. “[I] don’t likely see this being any kind of short-term IR thing, but I do want to see … how he responds to treatment this week.”
If McCarthy appears likely to miss several weeks, the Vikings could still decide to place him on injured reserve to temporarily free up a roster spot. The danger is that sending someone to IR to open that roster slot means the injured player must miss at least four weeks.
