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Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward broke his silence on his scuffle with All-Pro defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons during the team's practice on Monday (August 18).
"Jeff is strong as s--t," Ward said via ESPN's Titans beat writer Turron Davenport. "It was fun, and I think it was what we needed. We love competing, just with me and Jeff, and I'm excited to have that man as my teammate."
Davenport previously reported that Simmons and Ward "got into it" after a touchdown pass to wide receiver Calvin Ridley.
"Ward hit Ridley for a TD. Ward was going to Ridley and walked by Simmons who put his hands on him and it caused a scuffle. Simmons was running hot from the previous play," Davenport wrote on his X account at the time.
Ward reportedly went over to Simmons and gave him a shove before doing his 'Zombieland' celebration in front of him, with Simmons giving him back a two-hand shove to the facemask before offensive linemen intervened.
"Absolutely not," said left tackle Dan Moore Jr. when asked if the offensive line would allow anyone to touch the quarterback via ESPN. "That goes without saying."
Ward and Simmons were reportedly separated and practice ended two plays later.
"You get that same attitude, confidence, that same edge every day out of those two guys," said cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. via ESPN. "That's what you expect. But when it does happen with the quarterback you gotta break it OK as soon as possible. But brothers fight."
Ward was selected by the Titans at No. 1 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft and has been taking all of the first-team reps after Will Levis was announced to have undergone season-ending surgery last month. The former University of Miami (FL) standout threw for 4,313 yards, 39 touchdowns and seven interceptions on 305 of 454 passing, while also recording 204 yards and four touchdowns on 60 rushing attempts during his senior collegiate season in 2024.