What Happened to Cam Ward?
Cam Ward was injured when he dove into the end zone on a designed quarterback run for a seven-yard rushing touchdown on the Titans’ first offensive drive against the Jaguars, landed hard on his right shoulder, and was hit with additional force by linebacker Foyesade Oluokun. After the play, Ward got up slowly, went to the blue medical tent on the sideline, and was then taken to the locker room for X-rays, with his status quickly downgraded to out for the rest of the game.
Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) reported on X that Cam Ward was injured on the scoring play and subsequently headed to the locker room for further evaluation.
It was the kind of play fans usually love: a rookie quarterback selling out at the goal line, finishing the drive himself, and firing up the sideline and then the stadium went quiet when he stayed down a bit longer than usual. For the Titans, that single moment turned from highlight to headache; what started as an emotional early score in a 1 p.m. ET Week 18 matchup in Jacksonville ended up being the sequence that likely closed the book on Ward’s first NFL season.
When Will Cam Ward Return?
Cam Ward is not expected to return in the 2025 regular season, and with Week 18 already the finale, the realistic timeline now shifts to him being monitored and rehabbing his right shoulder through the offseason with the goal of being ready for the 2026 campaign.
As of the afternoon of Sunday, January 4, 2026, the Titans have not given a firm public timetable beyond confirming more tests will be done after the team returns home from Jacksonville, but multiple reports say the injury is season-ending rather than career-threatening.
Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) noted on X that early indications are Cam Ward’s injury is not serious and that he remains on the sideline with his right arm in a sling, pending further testing.
A Grade 3 AC joint sprain for a quarterback usually points to a recovery measured in months, not weeks, which lines up with the idea that this is an offseason rehab project rather than something that would spill deep into next year if everything goes as hoped.
The Titans’ plan will likely look conservative: plenty of rest now, a gradual throwing program in the spring or early summer, and then a clearer picture by training camp because with a No. 1 pick at quarterback, the priority is the long view, not a rushed return to a January game that has already finished.
Cam Ward Stats
Cam Ward finished his 2025 rookie regular season with 2,866 passing yards, 13 touchdown passes, and 7 interceptions, completing 60.2% of his throws on 299 completions in 497 attempts, along with 138 rushing yards and 1 rushing touchdown. That works out to 16 starts for the Titans, a passer rating of 79.1, and a QBR just over 30, numbers that show a mix of growing pains and clear flashes for a first-year starter on a 3–12 Tennessee team.
Game by game, Ward had some rough early weeks like a 108-yard, 0-touchdown outing in a 26–0 loss but also showed real progress with late-season performances such as 228 yards and 2 touchdowns on 75% completions in a December 21 win.
Across the year he consistently pushed the ball enough to post several 250-yard games, took 51 sacks behind a struggling line, and still managed to stabilize the position for a franchise that had been searching for a long-term answer under center.
Disclaimer: This Information is based on available team statements, league reporting, and early medical evaluations as of January 4, 2026. Injury details, recovery timelines, and roster decisions can change as further tests are completed. Always refer to official updates from the Tennessee Titans and the NFL for the most accurate and current information.
