If Titans quarterback Cam Ward had a fan club, defensive lineman Calais Campbell would be among the members.
"I rooted for him harder than anyone else last year, probably other than his mom," the defensive lineman said.
Campbell and Ward both played college football at the University of Miami. A Hurricane through and through, Campbell had watched Ward's game as a football fan. With the Titans visiting State Farm Stadium on Sunday, the studying has shifted from fan to foe
"The way he can throw the ball from multiple arm angles, throw it across his body, put it right on the money and throw across the field which you're not supposed to do, but when he does it, it still works out pretty consistently," Campbell said. "You see his potential."
Potential has been a term to describe the rookie quarterbacks the Cardinals have battled. The defense went 2-1 against the top three picks in the draft in 2023, beating Caleb Williams and Drake Maye. They lost to Jayden Daniels.
The Cardinals also faced the first overall pick in the 2023 class in Bryce Young in 2024 and 2025.
"They are all different," coach Jonathan Gannon said when asked if there are similarities in facing young quarterbacks. "They are all in different systems, all have different skill sets, being coached differently. Big time challenge, (Ward) is a good player."
Tennessee finds themselves winless to start the season, holding a 0-4 record. Gannon said when the team turned on the tape to prepare for the Titans, "it catches our attention." Yet in Nashville, frustration has boiled over. Ward in a postgame press conference shared his displeasure about their recent performances.
Ward, 23, has earned a reputation in the Titans locker room as being a quarterback with loads of confidence.
In Mack Wilson Sr.'s eyes, the latest trend he has seen from rookie quarterbacks has been their demeanor.
"Guys are obviously a little more confident coming into the league nowadays and you would want that, especially coming from that position," the linebacker said. "I feel like it's more of how is your college program is ran. Miami is a great program and obviously they run a program like how a National Football League program would be run, so I feel like getting those guys prepared for the next level and coming into the next level with a sense of confidence."
At Alabama, Wilson learned as early as his freshman season what it'd take to play in the NFL. In the three seasons he was at Alabama, the Crimson Tide had a 41-3 record with a National Championship victory in 2017. The Cardinals this year started 2-0 before falling on final play field goals in each of the last two games.
Craving the desire to return to the win column, the long weekend allowed the Cardinals' captain to reset.
"You had time to even go back and watch both of the last two games and pinpoint certain things that I feel like we need to get better as a team, as a group, and individually, and I feel like it was easy to see," Wilson said. "It's going to take all of us to just stay committed, stay locked in, and believe in one another. I feel like we're just getting started."
The defense has done a solid job through four games, generating a noticeable pass rush and impacting the quarterback. With the different schemes and disguises defensive coordinator Nick Rallis likes to deploy, Ward will be tested, especially behind a Titans offensive line without starting tackle JC Latham.
That's where Campbell's impact will be felt. He leads all Cardinals defensive lineman with eight pressures and has three sacks thus far.
On Sunday, it'll mark the 24th time in Campbell's 18-year career that he'll play against a rookie quarterback. He holds a 15-8 record in those games with 80 tackles and nine sacks.
But for the first time, the rookie is a Miami Hurricane.
"I think the greatest sign of respect is to give your best," Campbell said. "Every time I play against guys who are considered Hall of Famers or just guys I have a lot of respect for, they always get my best effort.
Images of the Arizona Cardinals practicing at the Dignity Health Training Facility before the Week 5 regular season matchup against the Tennessee Titans, presented by Gatorade
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Jonathan Gannon during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Kei'Trel Clark (13) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) , Arizona Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson (34) and Arizona Cardinals running back Jermar Jefferson (43) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Calais Campbell (93) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) and Arizona Cardinals cornerback Denzel Burke (29) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Denzel Burke (29) and Arizona Cardinals Cornerbacks Coach Ryan Smith during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (3) and Arizona Cardinals cornerback Max Melton (16) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals safety Kitan Crawford (36) and Arizona Cardinals tight end Josiah Deguara (45) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Isaiah Adams (74) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
The Arizona Cardinals during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Denzel Burke (29) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) and Arizona Cardinals cornerback Denzel Burke (29) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman PJ Mustipher (79) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Baron Browning (5) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither (27) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (3) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals safety Dadrion "Rabbit" Taylor-Demerson (42) and Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (3) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals General Manager Monti Ossenfort during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Zaven Collins (25) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Josh Sweat (10) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Hjalte Froholdt (72) and Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Isaiah Adams (74) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Max Melton (16) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Demontrey Jacobs (66) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals safety Kitan Crawford (36) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Jonah Williams (73) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Dante Stills (55) , Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson (94) and Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman PJ Mustipher (79) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals running back Jermar Jefferson (43) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals running back D'Ernest Johnson (37) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Josh Sweat (10) and Arizona Cardinals linebacker Elliott Brown (41) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Denzel Daxon (59) and Arizona Cardinals Defensive Line Coach Winston "DeBo" DeLattiboudere III during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Elijah Jones (28) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr. (70) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Elijah Higgins (84) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals safety Kitan Crawford (36) during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Jonathan Gannon during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Dragonfly during practice at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
