Things aren’t looking good for the Tennessee Titans. Their hopes to end the season in a decent way were crushed when quarterback Cam Ward hurt himself on a touchdown run. He was taken to the medical tent and then to the locker room with trainers, that too without his helmet. 

According to NFL injury analyst Jeff Mueller, Ward’s injury is likely a low-grade right AC joint sprain or subluxation caused by the awkward landing with arms across the body. The positive part: it’s not significant. 

Watching Ward on the field felt like watching a veteran, as he led the Titans straight down the field, highlighted by a massive 39-yard pass to fellow rookie Elic Ayomanor on a crucial third down. However, a few plays later, while scrambling seven yards for another touchdown to bring his team to a solid 7-0 in the first quarter, Ward fell onto his right shoulder. 

The stadium felt silent for a moment as the rookie was slow to get up before he was taken to the sideline medical tent. Initially, the rookie was listed “questionable” to return, but the Titans quickly realized that their star quarterback would not be coming back. A few minutes later, they took to social media to finalize the news. 

“Titans Injury Update: QB Cam Ward has been downgraded to OUT for the remainder of the game,” the  Titans wrote on X. 

With Ward out, veteran Brandon Allen is serving as backup, and the winds seem to be favoring the Jaguars, who are desperately chasing a win to crown themselves the AFC South winner. Meanwhile, the 23-year-old has returned to the sideline but in a jacket and a sling on his injured right shoulder. 

The season has been cut short for him. The Titans are awaiting the results of those X-rays. In the 16 games he played this season, he broke the franchise rookie passing record with 3,117 yards, tossing 15 touchdowns against only seven interceptions and a completion rate of 59.3%. Additionally, he also sits with 148 yards, a touchdown, and a league-leading 55 sacks. 

Who is Brandon Allen, Cam Ward’s backup?

Unlike Ward, veteran Brandon Allen is a new name for the Titans this season. They acquired him earlier this season in March, as they needed a seasoned hand to mentor and backup to their top overall pick, Ward. As a Tennessee, he played in the pregame where he was nearly flawless by completing 63.4% of his passes with 26-of-41 for 318 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. 

Interestingly, he was drafted by the Jaguars in the sixth round of the 2016 draft. He has also been with the LA Rams, Denver Broncos, Cincinnati Bengals, and SF 49ers. He has a total of 1,810 passing yards and 11 touchdowns in 18 games he has played so far. 

His most productive season came with the Bengals in 2020. He started five games due to Joe Burrow’s ACL injury. In those games, Allen threw for 925 yards and five scores. Now in Week 18, where he was forced into the middle of drama, he started well by completing a 21-yard pass to wide receiver Chimere Dike. Unfortunately, the Titans haven’t been able to score past seven, trailing behind the Jaguars’ 31 points in the third quarter. 

Top Stories

Cowboys Fire Defensive Coordinator Matt Eberflus: Contract, Salary, NFL Earnings & More

10 Biggest NFL Draft Busts of the Last Decade, Including Trey Lance and Justin Fields

Andy Reid Sets Record Straight on Travis Kelce’s Chiefs Future As Retirement Question Continue to Mount

Russell Wilson Announces Retirement Stance as Giants QB Shares Hidden Injury News

John Harbaugh’s Feelings Clear on Ravens’ Future as Firing Calls Mount Against HC