Cam Ward injury sours end of Titans season in yet another blowout defeat

1 week ago 2

JACKSONVILLE ― If you thought this Tennessee Titans season was bad with Cam Ward, just imagine how bad it would've been without him.

The Titans' 2025 season wheezed to a conclusion with a 41-7 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars, saddling the Titans with their second consecutive 3-14 record and their first winless season within their division since moving to Tennessee. Rookie quarterback Cam Ward led a five-play, 58-yard scoring drive to give the Titans a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, capped by a 7-yard Ward rushing touchdown, but Ward injured his throwing shoulder on the play and was ruled out for the remainder of the game, thrusting backup quarterback Brandon Allen into action.

Allen, playing for the first time in a Titans uniform, struggled. He went 17-for-30 with 72 yards and an interception that was returned for a touchdown. He only led the Titans across midfield once, and that drive ended with his pick-six, returned 58 yards by safety Antonio Johnson.

By contrast, Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence played one of his best games, clinching an AFC South title for the upstart Jaguars. Lawrence completed 22 of his 30 pass attempts for 255 yards and three touchdowns, albeit against an injury-addled Titans defense that didn't feature any of its Week 1 starters in the secondary.

Now the Titans' attentions can turn to the 2026 NFL Draft, in which the Titans are guaranteed a top-five pick, and the impending coaching search as led by general manager Mike Borgonzi.

Cam Ward injury: What happened, and what's it mean?

The Titans called two designed runs for Ward on the opening drive. Designed quarterback runs had been something of a rarity throughout Ward's rookie season; he'd averaged fewer than one per game. But the Titans leaned on it early, and to some success. Ward carried for 4 yards on a second down, and then for 7 yards on his first-and-goal touchdown, following blockers toward the home-sideline pylon and stretching out to give the Titans an early lead.

The play came with its consequences. Ward landed awkwardly on his shoulder, leading to evaluation on the sideline and then later in the locker room. Within half an hour of his injury, he'd already been ruled out for the remainder of the game.

Ward was 3-for-3 with 52 yards passing to go along with his two rushes on the opening drive. Included among his 52 yards was a 39-yard completion to rookie Elic Ayomanor, converting a third-and-10. It took Allen 27 attempts to reach the passing yardage mark Ward achieved on his first and only series.

Trevor Lawrence stats: The other QB who didn't finish the game

Lawrence exited the game early in the fourth quarter, shortly after crossing the 4,000-yard mark for the season. He also broke the Jaguars' single-season record for touchdown passes with 38, surpassing the mark set by Blake Bortles in 2015.

When Lawrence exited and was replaced by backup Nick Mullens, Jaguars fans at EverBank Stadium showered Lawrence with "MVP!" chants.

What's next for Tennessee Titans: Coaching search timeline

Interim coach Mike McCoy completes his tenure with a 2-9 record. It's difficult to imagine McCoy remaining as a serious candidate for the Titans' coaching vacancy, which has been open since October following the dismissal of Brian Callahan.

Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi will lead the search for Callahan's full-time replacement. Beginning in the days following the end of the season, the Titans may begin requesting permissions for and conducting virtual interviews with candidates employed by other NFL teams. The Titans cannot conduct in-person interviews for the position until after the divisional round of the playoffs concludes.

The Titans and Giants are the only teams that entered Week 18 with coaching vacancies, but it is anticipated. that multiple others will open up in the following days, creating more competition for the top candidates.

Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X @nicksuss. Subscribe to the Talkin’ Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Titans season ends with blowout loss, Cam Ward injury vs Jaguars

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