Cam Ward - Press Conference, titans Event: Press Conference | Date: 2026-09-20 | Full transcript (primary source).
Cam Ward addressed the media during a press conference for the Titans on September 20, 2026. The conference focused on the team's recent performance and their ongoing efforts to improve as they prepare for upcoming games.
Transcript
Ward: It's frustrating for sure. We wanna win every drive with a touchdown. That's our goal each and every time that we step on the field to get a touchdown. And for us not to be able to help the defense in that situation, we take that upon ourselves. But it's another opportunity to get better at things that when we ran the ball in the situation, things to get better from a run scheme, standpoints, bars, getting a hat on hat, myself carrying out the face to help it out, but I think it's just another opportunity for us to get better in that situation.
Ward: How do you balance the idea of something to build on versus a moral victory? It's not a moral victory, it's a loss. That's all it comes down to. But I mean, with every game, even last week is good, there's bad. But we gotta be a mentally tough team. We gotta be able to play four quarters of football over time if we need to. We just gotta continue to go in the right direction that we're going in.
Ward: What do you think about today? Kept it from coming up short. I think what encouraged me the most is that we were able to get some explosive offense, the O-line did a fantastic job as far as protecting myself. I think there were times where I shouldn't have left the pocket so early just cuz how well they protected it. I think the O-line had a great day. There's things that they can get better as well, I'm sure they will tell you. But I think we got done what we wanted to get done at least as far as a couple we're supposed to play is we ran the ball extremely well. We had some key plays in the past game, which we need. But we all gotta be better. I had some had a missed touchdown on the intercession that Hooker had. We ended up scoring that drive, but that's things that we continue to get better off. We're going to get a good team next week, try to win.
Ward: Do you guys like the game to stick with you longer than, let's say, last week? As far as looking at the little things here that are positive? Where you could have won? Every game sticks with you. I got games that stick with me since high school and college. And it's really all the bad plays, cuz that's really the only thing. If you play football, you remember, honestly, you remember more bad plays than good plays. We're supposed to make good plays, we're supposed to do our job. But I think the urgency is there, the communication is there. Now it just comes down to us winning, us playing all four football. I mean, all four quarters of football. And I'm proud to be on the scene. I'm proud to be one of the leaders in the locker room. And I'm looking forward to all of us taking this under the chain, getting better, preparing for next week.
Ward: How do you get to more of the stuff that made that good drive so good, where you hit Calvin a couple of times and we're really efficient? What is it about that drive that worked so well? And how do you sustain it later and get to it earlier? Everybody did their job, starts up front. They got a hat on a hat in a run game. They helped us out a lot in the past game. The receivers, they're very physical in a run game. They made plays in the past game, just plays that. They weren't bad for sure in the past game. It's also a play I want back. So it's really just limiting all the little things. That way we can play efficient each and every play.
Ward: Did you guys have to change anything from an operational standpoint, given the number of opposing fans in the stadium? Not really, I had to be a little bit louder. Had to go on solid down the stretch on third downs a little bit. But I mean, whatever comes with it, we gotta adjust to it. So that really doesn't play a factor in anything. Just how can we get better each and every play?
Ward: Did you have enough of a two minute drill at the end of the first half? It did seem to kind of put you in a good rhythm that lasted for most of the second half. I just think we were, that's when it clicked for it. I think that's when we were able to get in the rhythm. We were able to be on the field a little bit. I didn't think we had the ball early in the game. And that's me, that's on the entire offense, having the three now and then not being effective in play. So I think we really honed in on the little details. That got us going.
Ward: Did you have the opportunity to talk to Jaylen and if so, what did you say to him? Yeah, I did after the game. Just wish me the best of luck, say he respected me. I respect him as well for what he's accomplished in his journey. We both some Texas guys. So we just looking to be the best for our team, but he's a great quarterback.
Ward: Last week to this. Say that again. What improvements do you think you made from last week to this week? I just think we had a better showing. We had a better showing to run the ball, we had a better in the past game. And I think personally, I just think the operation from this week to last week stayed the same, I think we're in out of total fast. But I think just something that got better from week to week is continuing to stay in the pocket, I still didn't do as much as I really want to today. But that's also something I continue to get better at.
Ward: And what does he do that makes himself a comfortable, downfield target? He works hard, he shows up every day at the same time I show up and we watch every clip of film together. Every time I need to receive the catch the ball, he's there for me. He doesn't make no excuses. And I mean, everything that Alex about to get this year, whether it's yards, touchdowns, awards, anything, he deserves it. He's a hard worker, he's a great teammate, he never points a finger anybody. But he's gonna be the reason why we're able to win games down the stretch.
Ward: Can you leave here today feeling better? I leave here with another loss, that's the only thing that matters either. You win or you lose, we didn't win the way, we didn't win today. But I mean, there's good in it, but there's also bad in as well on both sides of the ball. But it's another opportunity, still early in the season, we're turning in the right direction, we just gotta make it happen next week. Try to get a win, gets a good team and help that spring goes on for it.
Ward: Is there anything, foundation, that you feel like you built on today? That maybe you didn't in the past, last year going into last week and then coming into this game? I would say, I would say just having the big key for us, this game, in the quarterback world was making a completion game. They have a great rush, they have some good guys in the back end. And so for us, it was more in the quarterback room to get the ball out, help the old line, try to stay in the green, try to have positive plays, not play so much 30 long or second long like we got in today. But I mean, that was an improvement for not only myself, but the whole offense is staying effective on early downs. And I think that's why it led us to playing better today.
Ward: What happened on the sack on the last drive? And did the mindset change after that from going for seven to maybe just knowing that you needed to get three? We tried to have a little naked. They made a good play on defense and we're getting a sack in. For us, it was more a second down, third down, called more of us trying to get something back. So we can get an opportunity to try to get seven, didn't go that way. But we put ourselves in a situation to take the lead.
Ward: You have a good view of Alex Hurdle, and what'd you think of that play? I had a great view of it. All I had to do was give him the ball in space. He was wide open, it was a great play called by Dave's. Man, I mean, that man's an athlete. So I'm pretty sure that ain't the last hurdle y'all seen from him.
