Titans edge Falcons in preseason win

A close preseason matchup ends in a Titans victory as Cameron Ward gains valuable reps and the defense makes key plays.

Titans edge Falcons in preseason win

ATLANTA AP Kendell Brooks returned a 53-yard interception for a touchdown and Titans rookie quarterback Cameron Ward showed both promise and rough edges in a 23-20 preseason win over the Falcons on Friday night. Tennessee kicker Joey Slye drilled a 23-yard field goal with 9:03 remaining to put the Titans ahead. Falcons backup Emory Jones was stopped on a fourth-down run near the Titans' 20 with 2:57 left and walked off with help after a hit from Amari Burney and Jemari Harris.

Ward played three series, finishing 2 of 7 for 42 yards. His high point was a 35-yard completion to Elic Ayomanor on the opening series; another long pass was dropped by Van Jefferson. Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, drew a positive review from coach Brian Callahan, who called the performance encouraging and noted an extra series was added because the play count was still light. Ward said the extra snaps felt real good for him, describing them as game-time reps instead of practice.

The teams traded third-quarter touchdowns. Jemar Jefferson’s 16-yard run capped a 13-play drive for a 20-13 Titans lead, while Easton Stick connected with Chris Blair on a 52-yard score to tie the game for Atlanta. Trevor Siemian led a late Titans drive that ended with Slye’s field goal. The Falcons rested several veterans, and the Titans used the trip as part of a nine-night stretch away from home that included a visit to Tampa Bay last week.

Ward’s night adds a data point to the ongoing evaluation of a top draft pick in a crowded preseason scene. He flashed arm talent on a handful of plays and showed resilience by bouncing back after a tough completion drop, but accuracy and consistency are still clearly work in progress. The extra third-quarter series signals the Titans want real game-time reps rather than practice reps, a move that can speed up learning even as it invites risk in a fragile rookie cycle.

For Atlanta, the game underscored depth questions and a focus on development. Key players sat out, and the Falcons mixed in backups while preserving starters for longer-term plans. The result is less a verdict on the roster and more a snapshot of where both teams stand halfway through the preseason, with early signal about who might contribute in late-season scenarios.

Highlights

The next steps will reveal how much Ward can translate to regular-season pace