NASHVILLE, United States — Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward made a strong impression on Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald during Friday’s joint practice, with the rookie quarterback showing command of the offense against one of the NFL’s strongest defenses from the 2025 season.
- Mike Macdonald praised Cam Ward’s command of the Titans offense during Friday’s joint practice.
- Ward completed 20 of 26 passes with two touchdowns and one interception across team and 7-on-7 work.
- The practice gave Ward another test after a difficult preseason opener against San Francisco.
- Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold also praised Tennessee’s defense after facing its pressure schemes.
Cam Ward earns praise from Mike Macdonald
Macdonald had an opportunity to watch Ward closely as Seattle’s defense worked against Tennessee’s offense in Nashville. The Seahawks coach already had experience facing the quarterback from last season, when Seattle defeated the Titans 30-24 in Tennessee.
That previous meeting had left an impression on Macdonald, and Friday’s practice reinforced his view of the quarterback. Macdonald said Ward was in command of the offense and performed well during the session.
The Seahawks coach also recalled Ward’s performance in last year’s meeting, describing the young quarterback as difficult to handle. Macdonald believes Ward has the ability to put together a strong season.
Ward responds after preseason opener
Friday’s practice provided an important opportunity for Ward following Tennessee’s preseason-opening victory at San Francisco. His performance in that game had created questions that he was able to address during the joint session with Seattle.
Ward completed 20 of 26 passes and threw two touchdowns along with one interception during team and 7-on-7 drills. The work gave Tennessee another chance to evaluate its young quarterback against a defense that excelled at limiting points last season.
Seattle’s defense allowed the fewest points in the NFL in 2025, making the joint practice a useful test for Ward and the Titans offense. The setting also gave coaches a chance to evaluate their units without waiting for a preseason game.
Robert Saleh focuses on Titans’ offensive progress
Titans coach Robert Saleh was primarily focused on his defense during the practice, leaving the evaluation of the offense to the work on the opposite field. He said he was interested in seeing whether the Titans could carry over the control they had established along the line of scrimmage the previous week.
Saleh said the team had performed well in that area during its previous preseason work and wanted to see whether the same level of execution could be maintained against Seattle.
The joint session therefore served as more than a quarterback evaluation. It gave Tennessee’s coaching staff a chance to measure how its offense handled a Seattle defense that had been highly effective the previous season.
Sam Darnold gets a look at Saleh’s defense
While Ward worked against Seattle’s defense, Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold had an opportunity to face the Titans unit coached by Saleh. The defensive approach offered Darnold a familiar feeling because he saw similar pressure concepts last season when Saleh was a coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers.
Darnold said Tennessee was showing a variety of defensive looks and praised the unit’s overall approach. He expects the Titans defense to be a difficult group to play against during the upcoming season.
The familiarity between Darnold and Saleh added another layer to the joint practice. Darnold had firsthand knowledge of the defensive system from their time in San Francisco, while Saleh could evaluate how his new Titans defense performed against Seattle’s offense.
Seahawks and Titans use practice as preseason test
Joint practices have become an important part of preseason preparation because they allow teams to face unfamiliar opponents in controlled situations. Friday’s session gave both Seattle and Tennessee opportunities that a standard practice within their own camps cannot provide.
For the Titans, Ward’s work against Seattle offered a particularly valuable test. The quarterback was facing a defense that finished 2025 as the NFL’s best in points allowed, while Tennessee could assess whether its offensive improvements were translating against stronger competition.
For Seattle, the session provided an extended look at Ward while also allowing Darnold and the offense to work against Saleh’s defensive schemes.
Ward’s development remains a key Titans storyline
As the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Ward enters the season with significant expectations. His performance during joint practices gives Tennessee another measure of his progress as he continues developing as the team’s quarterback.
Macdonald’s assessment was particularly encouraging because it came after watching Ward operate directly against Seattle’s defense. The Seahawks coach saw enough during Friday’s work to describe the quarterback as being in control of Tennessee’s offense.
The Titans will now have the opportunity to review the practice film and determine how well the offense maintained its execution against Seattle. For Ward, the session provided a chance to respond on the field and show the confidence and control that his coach and the Seahawks’ staff were looking for.
Praveen Yadav is the Founder and Content Creator of The Nation Bulletin, an independent digital news platform focused on delivering timely, reliable and meaningful news from India and around the world.
