The start of the 2025 NFL season is here, and for the Tennessee Titans, it is time to kick off the Cam Ward era. The rookie quarterback and the rest of the team face a tall challenge when they travel to Denver for a Week 1 matchup with the Broncos, a team that returns many meaningful contributors and carries as much momentum into this season as any team. Based on the injury report, the challenge could be heightened because it is possible that one of the Titans' key offseason acquisitions might not be available. And in case anyone needed more evidence of what a tall task this opener is, the oddsmakers have made the Titans one of the two biggest underdogs for the NFL's opening weekend. 

The Tennessee Titans made their roster cuts this week to get to the NFL's regular-season limit of 53 players. Then they promptly used their position as the first team in the league's waiver order to make a handful of roster adjustments a day later, with a clear focus on one unit. Additionally, they named team captains, and the seven-person group includes one newcomer, one rookie and a couple of familiar names, but it also excludes one position group. All of this sets the stage for the start of the regular season, which will come in just over a week. 

After two preseason games on the road, the Tennessee Titans will close out their preparation with a home game against the Minnesota Vikings on Friday. The practice week leading up to that game included the return of cornerback L'Jarius Sneed, who had not played or practiced since last October, and a brief -- but much-discussed -- shoving match between defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons and rookie quarterback Cam Ward. Speaking of Ward, his relatively brief appearances in the first two preseason contests have not been particularly revelatory or memorable, but there have been indications that he is different (read: better) than the other young quarterbacks this franchise has tried in recent years.

The Tennessee Titans headed south this week for two days of joint workouts with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers followed by the preseason opener for both teams on Saturday. Before that, though, they brought back a player who knows a little something about the defense as well as the most notable member of this year's rookie class. Also, coach Brian Callahan made it clear that things will be different this year when he said that starters will play in all three preseason contests and when -- following a poor practice performance by the offense -- he unleashed a degree of fury on that unit.

The first full week of training camp, which included some practices in pads, was a mixed bag for some recent Tennessee Titans' first-round picks. Wide receiver Treylon Burks (2022) was released after he sustained another injury, this one a fractured shoulder. Quarterback Cam Ward (2025) had a tough time with five interceptions over three days, including three in a single day. On the flip side, guard Peter Skoronski (2023) and tackle JC Latham (2024) were dominant at times (Latham in particular) against the defensive line and created optimism that the offensive line might actually be much better than it was a year ago.

The Tennessee Titans did not have one of their quarterbacks when they opened training camp this week -- and they won't have him at any other point this season either. Will Levis was placed on injured reserve and will miss the entire 2025 season after he opted to have shoulder surgery. The decision takes away a little preseason drama and raises questions about the timing. ... Cam Ward did take part in the first training camp workout of his NFL career, and he called the offense's performance "mid." There are worse things for a rookie quarterback than an uneventful day. ... Cornerback L'Jarius Sneed is one of two veterans on the Physically Unable to Perform list. The reason he is there is somewhat unexpected and adds to the feeling that he will never be fully healthy for the Titans. ... Edge rusher Lorenzo Carter informed the team that he planned to retire rather than report for camp. The seven-year veteran never has had more than five sacks in a season and did not have one last season for Atlanta, yet his loss made waves among the fan base, which says something about the current state of the defense.

It is a week before the start of training camp, and CBS Sports ranked Brian Callahan as the worst coach in the NFL. Truth be told, based on his one season on the job, it is tough to argue in favor of a higher rating. ... Second-round pick Femi Oladejo remains unsigned and might miss the start of training camp. Of course, the same is true for virtually all of the league's second-round picks -- and there is a simple explanation. ... Quarterback Cam Ward almost certainly won't have to wait to be a starter. So, what will constitute a good start to the career of this year's first overall pick? ... Cornerback L'Jarius Sneed was little more than a rumor last year. His recent comments suggest that this year he plans to offer a reminder of the type of player he can be.

Cam Ward is the latest quarterback the Tennessee Titans have selected early in the draft, following the likes of Vince Young, Jake Locker and Marcus Mariota. The others had their moments, but none measured up to the standard established by Steve McNair, the only quarterback to take the franchise to the Super Bowl. Ward has yet to throw a pass in the preseason (never mind the regular season), but there are some similarities in his story and his approach that compare favorably with McNair. Also, ESPN's preseason statistical projections for Ward and other key players have been published. We weigh in on whether those projections are optimistic or pessimistic.

As training camp approaches, there is not a lot of respect for the Tennessee Titans' roster. Pro Football Focus recently released its rankings of the top 32 players at each position group, and more than half of those groups did not include any of the Titans. Also in recent days, a bookmaker said the overwhelming odds are that Tennessee will fail to make the playoffs this season. The fact is that there are not a lot position groups where it is tough to figure who will make the roster. Likewise, there are not many well-established veterans who look like they could be pushed out before the start of the regular season.

Coach Brian Callahan opted for a maximum minicamp in his second season with the Tennessee Titans. Many NFL teams cut the final day from the mandatory three-day session that concludes formal offseason work as a reward for the players' work over the preceding weeks (the Detroit Lions canceled their entire minicamp), but Callahan and his staff put the players through three full days of workouts before they cut them loose ahead of training camp. ... Minicamp afforded the media three straight days to watch rookie quarterback Cam Ward. There was some good. There was some bad. And there was some banter -- particularly with defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. ... All of this and more, on this episode of First and Tenn.