Titans QB Cam Ward (shoulder) avoids surgery

Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward said Monday he won't need surgery for the shoulder injury that abruptly ended his season on Sunday, per ESPN.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft said the plan for the sprained AC joint in his right shoulder is to let the injury heal.

"There is relief for myself, for the building and the training staff," Ward said. "They are going to get it right, continue to walk me through the process (and) what I need to do to get better and get back on the field. I just need to heal."

Ward made an early exit from Sunday's 41-7 loss at Jacksonville after being tackled on a 7-yard touchdown run and landing on his throwing shoulder in capping off the Titans' opening drive.

After being examined on the sideline, he walked to the locker room with the training staff for further examination. He was ruled out for the rest of the game, which concluded the Titans' season at 3-14.

Brandon Allen took the field to begin Tennessee's second series, marking the first missed snap of Ward's rookie season. He played the team's first 951 snaps on offense.

Ward, 23, was 3 for 3 for 52 yards and two carries for 11 yards and the score -- his second rushing TD of the season. He completed 59.8% of his passes (323 of 540) for 3,169 yards and 15 TDs with seven interceptions in 17 starts.

Ward told reporters Monday that the injury won't change his offseason plans.

"I'm working on my base of my mechanics; I'm not changing my throwing motion," Ward said, per ESPN. "So the timetable for what I have set to get to mechanically (this offseason), what I need to do, is still on schedule."