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Does Cam Ward need shoulder surgery? Titans QB talks injury, recovery
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- Does Cam Ward need shoulder surgery? Titans QB talks injury, recovery
Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward told reporters on Jan. 5 that he doesn't think he'll need surgery to repair the sprained AC joint in his right throwing shoulder, which he injured in the Titans' season finale on Jan. 4.
"Just really heal," Ward said when asked what the prescription is for how he should handle the injury through the offseason. "Talked with the trainers. I'll probably have some rehabbing. Then you just continue to try to get stronger on my shoulder and try to get ready for next year."
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Ward exited the Titans ' 41-7 loss against Jacksonville after the team's first offensive series. He rushed in for a touchdown from 7 yards out, lunging over the goal line and landing awkwardly between the football and a diving Jaguars defender.
Ward headed to the locker room shortly thereafter for X-rays and was ruled out for the rest of the game within the half-hour. He returned to the sideline for the second half sporting a sling supporting his right arm and shoulder.
One day later, Ward says he didn't feel or hear a pop in his shoulder. He just sensed soreness. His mind raced through all the possibilities; his first instinct was there was "too much (expletive) in his head" all at once. He wanted to get the X-rays done as quickly as possible in hope he'd be able to return to the game.
Ward said he has not been given a timetable yet for when he'll be cleared for football activities.
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Cam Ward injury: What's next?
Ward heads into an offseason where rehab has to be the focus. He finished his rookie season with 3,169 yards passing, 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He played his best football in December, going on a stretch of four consecutive games with multiple touchdowns as the Titans scored 24 or more points in all four games.
The initial diagnosis on Ward's injury seemed to indicate surgery was likely, with a source telling The Tennessean after the game that the expectation was the injury was "significant." Surgery to repair a damaged AC joint could sideline a thrower for anywhere from six to nine months. But with rehab, the process to return should be quicker.
"There is relief for myself and the building," Ward said. "The training staff, they get it right. Continue to walk me through the process of what I need to do to get better and get back on the field."
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Neither Ward nor interim Titans coach Mike McCoy directly ruled out the possibility of surgery, but both indicated that surgery wasn't the likely path at the moment.
As for pain management, Ward answered like a football player.
When asked how the pain of injuring his shoulder compared to other pains experienced on the football field, Ward said: "I got up off the field, so I was fine."
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com . Follow Nick on X @nicksuss . Subscribe to the Talkin' Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Does Cam Ward need shoulder surgery? Titans QB talks injury, recovery
