Ward solid in NFL preseason debut, leading one scoring drive in Titans' 29-7 loss to Buccaneers

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Cam Ward's pro debut was solid, if unspectacular.

The first overall pick in this year's NFL draft completed five of eight passes for 67 yards, but more importantly was composed and looked comfortable running Tennessee's offense in the Titans' 29-7 preseason-opening loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday night.

Two days after working against the Bucs defense in a joint practice at Tampa Bay's training facility, Ward played two offensive series, including an impressive second-quarter touchdown drive that gave the Titans a glimpse of what the franchise is counting on to be a bright future with him at quarterback.

The 6-foot-2, 219-pound rookie completed three passes to Calvin Ridley to account for all but 15 yards on the 11-play, 65-yard TD drive Tony Pollard finished with a 1-yard scoring run. That came after the Tennessee offense spent more than 14 minutes of the opening quarter on the sideline while Tampa Bay was building a 10-0 lead and a whopping 143-5 advantage in total yardage while running 22 plays to Tennessee's 3.

“I thought Cam played well, the two series that he got,” Titans second-year coach Brian Callahan said. “It was kind of a weird first half with three possessions. He had one three and out, then came back with a touchdown drive. He started to feel comfortable and was begging to go back in, but that was not in the cards tonight.”

Ward felt good about the abbreviated debut.

“It was a lot guys first time playing together, but it felt good to come up with points,” after failing to move the ball on the Titans' first possession," the rookie said.

“I wanted to go out for a third (series) ... but Coach Callahan has a plan for us," Ward conceded. ”We'll stick to his plan."

Ward began his team's only scoring drive with a 27-yard completion over the middle to a wide-open Ridley and later led his target cutting across the middle again with a nice throw for a 13-yard gain into Tampa Bay territory. The rookie got away with his worst throw of the night when Bucs cornerback Josh Hayes made a nice adjustment on a sideline throw intended for receiver Elic Ayomanor but was unable to hang on to the ball for an interception.

Ward, who had no turnovers and was not sacked, left the game after getting the Titans into the end zone. Backup Brandon Allen and third-stringer Tim Boyle, who threw an interception that was returned for a late touchdown, shared playing time the rest of the way.

With Baker Mayfield and the rest of Tampa Bay's regulars either given the night off or playing sparingly, Kyle Trask started at quarterback for the Bucs. While he's listed No. 2 on the depth chart behind Mayfield, the team has signed 32-year-old Teddy Bridgewater as potential insurance for the four-time defending NFC South champions.

Trask, who's thrown just 11 regular-season passes since entering the NFL as a second-round draft pick in 2021, led the team to Sean Tucker's 2-yard TD run and two field goals in the first half. He completed 12 of 16 passes for 129 yards without an interception before being replaced by rookie free agent Connor Bazelak.

“I thought he played very well. He made some timely throws down the field. He was poised in the pocket," Bucs coach Todd Bowles said. “Practice wasn't as sharp the past week, but he played well in the game.”

First-round draft pick Emeka Egbuka started at wide receiver for the Bucs with Mike Evans resting and the team's other star veteran, Chris Godwin, still recovering from an injury that sidelined him much of last season.

Egbuka had one catch — a leaping grab in tight coverage — for 21 yards.

Titans: NT T'Vondre Sweat did not play after having his tonsils removed. ... ILB Anfernee Orji also missed the game after injuring a knee during Thursday's joint practice against the Bucs.

Buccaneers: RB Rachaad White (groin) and WR Dennis Houston (groin) left the game in the first quarter and did not return.

Titans: Remain on the road for another week, moving on to Atlanta for two joint practices followed by a game Aug. 15 against the Falcons.

Buccaneers: Travel to Pittsburgh mid-week for a joint practice and game against the Steelers next Saturday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Tennessee Titans cornerback Clarence Lewis breaks up a pass intended for Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jaden Smith during the second half of an NFL preseason football game on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tennessee Titans cornerback Davion Ross celebrates after recovering a fumble Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL preseason football game on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley runs against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL preseason football game on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Roman Parodie intercepts a pass and returns it jar,for a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during the second half of an NFL preseason football game on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tennessee Titans quarterback Cameron Ward passes against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL preseason football game on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Torrential rains and flooding have killed more than 100 people in South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, and authorities warned Friday that more severe weather was expected across several countries in southern Africa.

South Africa has reported at least 19 deaths in two of its northern provinces following heavy rains that began last month and led to severe flooding.

Tourists and staff members were evacuated this week by helicopter from flooded camps to other areas in the renowned Kruger National Park, which is closed to visitors while parts of it are inaccessible because of washed out roads and bridges, South Africa's national parks agency said.

In neighboring Mozambique, the Institute for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction said 103 people had died in an unusually severe rainy season since late last year. Those deaths were from various causes including electrocution from lightning strikes, drowning in floods, infrastructure collapse caused by the severe weather and cholera, the institute said.

The worst flooding in Mozambique has been in the central and southern regions, where more than 200,000 people have been affected, thousands of homes have been damaged, while tens of thousands face evacuation, the World Food Program said.

Zimbabwe’s disaster management agency said that 70 people have died and more than 1,000 homes have been destroyed in heavy rains since the beginning of the year, while infrastructure including schools, roads and bridges collapsed.

Flooding has also hit the island nation of Madagascar off the coast of Africa as well as Malawi and Zambia. Authorities in Madagascar said 11 people died in floods since late November.

The United States' Famine Early Warning System said flooding was reported or expected in at least seven southern African nations, possibly due to the presence of the La Nina weather phenomenon that can bring heavy rains to parts of southeastern Africa.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited flood-stricken areas in the northern Limpopo province on Thursday and said that region had received around 400 millimeters (more than 15 inches) of rain in less than a week. He said that in one district he visited “there are 36 houses that have just been wiped away from the face of the Earth. Everything is gone ... the roofs, the walls, the fences, everything.”

The flooding occurred in the Limpopo and Mpumalanaga provinces in the north, and the South African Weather Service issued a red-level 10 alert for parts of the country for Friday, warning of more heavy rain and flooding that poses a threat to lives and could cause widespread infrastructure damage.

The huge Kruger wildlife park, which covers some 22,000 square kilometers (7,722 square miles) across the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, has been impacted by severe flooding and around 600 tourists and staff members have been evacuated from camps to high-lying areas in the park, Kruger National Park spokesperson Reynold Thakhuli said.

He couldn't immediately say how many people there were in the park, which has been closed to visitors after several rivers burst their banks and flooded camps, restaurants and other areas. The parks agency said precautions were being taken and no deaths or injuries had been reported at Kruger.

The South African army sent helicopters to rescue other people trapped on the roofs of their houses or in trees in northern parts of the country, it said. An army helicopter also rescued border post officers and police officers stranded at a flooded checkpoint on the South Africa-Zimbabwe border.

Southern Africa has experienced a series of extreme weather events in recent years, including devastating cyclones and a scorching drought that caused a food crisis in parts of a region that often suffers food shortages.

The World Food Program said more than 70,000 hectares (about 173,000 acres) of crops in Mozambique, including staples such as rice and corn, have been waterlogged in the current flooding, worsening food insecurity for thousands of small-scale farmers who rely on their harvests for food.

Imray reported from Cape Town, South Africa. AP writers Charles Mangwiro in Maputo, Mozambique, and Farai Mutsaka in Harare, Zimbabwe, contributed to this report.

AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa

This image made from video shows the scene after flooding in Tete Province, Mozambique, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo)

This image made from video shows the scene after flooding in Tete Province, Mozambique, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo)

This image made from video shows the scene after flooding in Tete Province, Mozambique, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo)