Titans beat Vikings 23-13 to wrap preseason

Cam Ward’s first NFL touchdown of any kind will have to wait for the regular season after the No. 1 overall pick helped the Tennessee Titans wrap up the preseason by beating the Minnesota Vikings 23-13 Friday night.

Ward finished his preseason 10 of 19 for 145 yards while playing into the second quarter of all three games. Against the Vikings, Ward didn’t complete his first pass. In his second series, he was 3 of 3 for 36 yards, driving the Titans 13 plays for 90 yards over 8:33.

Titans coach Brian Callahan said he wanted to limit the hits the rookie quarterback took this preseason. 

Julius Chestnut capped the drive led by Ward with a 1-yard run that put the Titans (2-1) up 7-3.

Minnesota kicker Will Reichard missed a 63-yard field goal just short of the crossbar as the half expired, and he later missed a 55-yarder wide left. Reichard sneaked a 58-yarder inside the left upright midway through the fourth to make it 20-13.

The Titans let kicker Joey Slye try a 63-yarder in the third quarter. The kicker now with his sixth NFL team made his. Slye’s career long is a 63-yarder last season with New England, and this kick would’ve been good from at least 70. The franchise record is 60 yards by Rob Bironas in 2006.

Meanwhile, with the NFL’s deadline for final roster cuts coming up on Tuesday afternoon, the Titans hold the No. 1 spot on the waiver wire. They are ready to add anyone who can help this season.

“You get your first crack at anybody you think upgrades your roster,” coach Brian Callahan said Saturday of the Titans holding the top spot once players are released.

Callahan said he knows first-year general manager Mike Borgonzi and his staff have been studying every player and watching every game of the other 31 NFL teams. Callahan said they have a good feel for who might be available.

“You never know what potentially is going to shake free or not shake free, and so you do due diligence and you’re ready for it when it comes,” Callahan said. “There’s going to be opportunities to claim some players I think that’ll help us.”



(AP Photo George Walker IV)