Tennessee quarterback Cam Ward was a limited participant due to an ankle/calf issue at Wednesday’s walkthrough practice, the first with Bo Hardegree as the Titans’ offensive play-caller.
Ward, the top overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, did not mention any health problems when he spoke with reporters after practice about Hardegree, the team’s quarterbacks coach who was handed play-calling duties on Tuesday from head coach Brian Callahan.
Ward has played every offensive snap for the Titans (0-3) and completed 54 of 99 passes (54.5 percent) for 506 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also has seven carries for 20 yards and been sacked a league-leading 15 times for 105 yards
Tennessee visits the Houston Texans (0-3) on Sunday.
The Titans also listed running back Kalel Mullings (ankle), wide receiver Bryce Oliver (knee) and right tackle JC Latham (hip) as non-participants. Right guard Kevin Zeitler (biceps) and safety Kevin Winston Jr. (hamstring) were limited.
Ward, 23, said having Hardegree call plays is “going to be great.”
“He understands the offense as a whole, he understands where my head is at, just what I see on the field,” Ward said. “He has experience with the Raiders, and he has been around some great quarterbacks.
“But I just think the biggest thing about Bo is that he’s going to put us all in a situation — especially today, just finally listening to him, say the play call, play call is just coming in, me thinking, watching more film with him just what he’s thinking, then also Coach Callahan having his input on it.”
Callahan said Tuesday that he would step back from the in-game play-calling role but will help formulate game plans and have input during the game along with offensive coordinator Nick Holz.
Hardegree, 41, was hired as Tennessee’s quarterbacks coach in 2024 and interviewed to be offensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears in the offseason. He crossed paths with Callahan as a quality control coach with the Broncos in 2014. Callahan was an offensive assistant in Denver.
Hardegree has NFL play-calling experience when he served as interim offensive coordinator for the final nine games of the 2023 season with the Las Vegas Raiders.
“He’s one of the first ones who hit me up in the pre-draft process,” Ward said of Hardegree. “I talked to him, a lot of phone calls, a lot of installs with Bo throughout the pre-draft process, so I have a great relationship with him. I meet with him every day. He just knows where my mind is and how I feel space on the field. I just think he’s going to be a good addition for us.”