NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans are banking their rebuild around quarterback Cam Ward, and the No. 1 overall draft pick is showing quick results — at least inside the locker room.
Ward was one of seven players voted as team captains for this season, and second-year head coach Brian Callahan said the vote was pretty close to unanimous for the rookie. Ward is the team’s first quarterback voted a captain as a rookie since Marcus Mariota, the No. 2 pick of the 2015 draft.
“Cam’s definitely earned it,” Callahan said Thursday. “The leadership he’s shown over the course of his time here from the offseason through training camp, those guys have a lot of respect for him. And traditionally, your quarterback tends to be a captain. That’s just sort of how it works.”
The Titans announced their captains Wednesday night. Wide receiver Calvin Ridley and running back Tony Pollard are captains for the first time in their NFL careers. Three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, linebacker Cody Barton, safety Amani Hooker and long snapper Morgan Cox are the others.
Ridley called being voted a captain a great honor for someone in his seventh pro season, with this his second year in Nashville after time with the Atlanta Falcons and the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also isn’t surprised that Ward was picked as well.