No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward got one more shot at NFL action ahead of the regular season Friday night against the Minnesota Vikings.
Tennessee hosted the Vikings for their final tune-up with days to go until final roster cuts. Ward, a lock to make the final 53-man roster, saw limited time in the final preseason game.
Ward started the game and played two drives over 16 total plays. That’s compared to two drives in the Titans’ preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and three in the Titans’ second preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons.
In all, Ward’s had 22 dropbacks combined over the three preseason games. He’ll likely experience more than that in the Titans’ regular season opener on the road against the Denver Broncos.
Still, there’s a lot to glean from the Miami product’s performance. Here’s how we grade Ward’s final preseason game:
Cam Ward grades: Rookie leads scoring drive
Ward’s first drive ended with a punt, something the Titans offense has done in the opening drive of each preseason game. His first pass went incomplete when Tyler Lockett dropped a screen pass.
He bailed out of the pocket on 3rd and 6 and scrambled to the sideline to avoid a sack.
Ward had an easier go of it on his second drive, starting on his first pass. The rookie quarterback placed the ball perfectly for Van Jefferson to get both feet inbounds for a first down.
Two plays later, rookie wideout Elic Ayomanor found a hole in the zone and Ward found him for a 13-yard gain. The Vikings got to Ward on his next drop back for a sack and a three-yard loss.
Ward rolled out to his right on his next pass and threw over the short middle to running back Julius Chestnut to bring the Titans inside the Vikings’ 10-yard line. One play later, Ward found Ayomanor on a short pass to get the Titans to the goal line and Chestnut punched it in for a touchdown on the next play.
Ward ended the night 3 of 4 passing for 36 yards with one rushing attempt for one yard. It was limited action but Ward continues to show flashes that made him the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Grade: B
Ward continues to make good throws even in limited action during the preseason. The touch he showed on his completion to Jefferson bodes well for regular season action. The Vikings are notoriously one of the tougher defenses schematically, even in the preseason, and Ward handled it.