Ward relieved about shoulder injury as Titans starts coaching search

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Cam Ward is relieved at what he's been told about his throwing shoulder after watching the second half of the season finale sidelined with a sling, and interim Titans coach Mike McCoy said Monday he's heard “positive feedback” on the quarterback's injury.

That's the first good news the Tennessee Titans have had in a while.

The next? It's time for general manager Mike Borgonzi to kick the franchise's coaching search into gear after the Titans became the first NFL team to fire a coach after a 1-5 start.

McCoy said he'd love to be with the Titans in 2026 even as the team started sending out interview requests.

“The foundation’s here. You’ve got to continue to improve the roster as you go on,” McCoy said. “But they’ve got a very bright future here.”

The Titans have had back-to-back 3-14 seasons since firing coach Mike Vrabel, going a combined 19-49 combined over the past four.

Rookies had a combined 66 starts with at least eight playing in 10 consecutive games. Four-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, who had a career-high 11 sacks, saw growth that has him excited for the future.

“We’re going to be headed in the right direction," Simmons said. "They’re going to make sure we get the head coach to come in and get us back to where we want to be.”

Borgonzi, scheduled to talk to reporters Tuesday, has lots to help sell running his first coaching search: The fourth overall draft pick and the NFL's most salary cap space for 2026, according to Spotrac.com.

What's working

The offensive line revamped specifically to help a rookie quarterback played its best in the final weeks. The improvement was helped as the Titans leaned on the run game.

Left guard Peter Skoronski has become the anchor in his third season, while right tackle JC Latham dealt with a hip injury early after playing on the left side as a rookie. Center Lloyd Cushenberry also had to work his way back from the Achilles tendon injury that shortened his 2024 season.

Right guard Kevin Zeitler, who turns 36 in March, signed only a one-year deal. Finding a replacement for Zeitler is the one spot that needs attention.

What needs help

The secondary. The Titans need lots of defensive backs. Borgonzi traded away starter Jarvis Brownlee Jr. in September, then nickelback Roger McCreary in October.

L’Jarius Sneed has an out in the contract he got when traded to Tennessee in March 2024. That should be an easy decision with Sneed having played only 12 games for the Titans with no interceptions. He didn't talk with reporters before leaving the locker room Monday.

Stock up

Ward. The No. 1 overall draft pick started every game and threw for 52 yards before running for a touchdown with a hit that knocked him out of the finale with the injured shoulder.

The rookie showed work ethic and leadership getting rookies to meet early starting in the spring. He set the franchise rookie record throwing for 3,169 yards, and he threw 15 touchdowns with only seven interceptions. He tied for the NFL's most-sacked quarterback with 55, though the Titans gave up eight over the final five games.

Ward said he doesn't believe he'll need surgery at this point for his sprained shoulder.

“There is relief for myself, for the building and the training staff, they are going to get it right,” Ward said. “Continue to walk me through the process what I need to do to get better and get back on the field.”

Stock down

WR Calvin Ridley. He just turned 31 and is set to count the most against the Titans' salary cap in 2026. He has an out in his contract. He had a 1,000-yard receiving season in 2024 but had only one 100-yard receiving game in 2025 before a season-ending injury limited him to seven games.

Injuries

Ward is the biggest name starting the offseason recovering from an injury. QB Will Levis had his shoulder surgery in July and has a year left on his rookie deal. CB Jalyn Armour-Davis (Achilles tendon) and rookies S Kevin Winston Jr. (hamstring), CB Marcus Harris (knee) also got hurt late in the season.

Key number

8 — The number of draft picks the Titans currently have in the 2026 draft with four of those in the top 101 selections.

Next steps

Hire the third different coach since January 2018. Create a bit more cap space by clearing out high-priced free-agent additions that just haven't paid off for a team that already has the most cap money to spend going into the NFL's new league year in March.

And try to put together another strong draft class.

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