Titans at Colts Is Where Robert Saleh's Patience Plan Has to Show Up on the Field

The Titans are 0-5 and heading to Indianapolis on Sunday, and the conversation around this team has turned into a referendum on Cam Ward. That's the wrong fight.

Our Take: Sunday in Indy is about the guys in front of Ward and the guys behind the defense, not about benching a rookie quarterback five games in.

Look at Wednesday's official injury report. Safety Kevin Winston Jr. (shoulder) didn't practice. Amani Hooker is limited coming off a concussion. Corners Marcus Harris (ankle) and Cordale Flott (chest) are banged up, with Flott a full go. Tyjae Spears is limited with a knee, and Tony Pollard and John Franklin-Myers got veteran rest days. That's a secondary held together with tape heading into a division road game.

Meanwhile The Tennessean reports Robert Saleh sat down with Ward this week specifically to talk through the offensive line issues, and the Nashville Post says the line is looking to bounce back after a rough Week 5. That tells you where the coaching staff thinks the problem lives.

So here's what we want to see: clean pockets on early downs, Spears and Pollard getting the ball in space, and a defense that doesn't hand Indy free yards. Do that and Ward gets a fair shot to look like the guy we drafted. Don't, and 0-6 will be on everybody, not just the quarterback.

Titan Up.

Sources: [Titans Week 6 injury report](https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/week-6-injury-report-titans-at-colts), [Titans Quick Hits, Wednesday of Colts week](https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/quick-hits-on-the-titans-from-wednesday-of-colts-week)