Locker won’t need surgery
Titan has sprained hip, out 4-6 weeks
NASHVILLE — The Titans received welcome news about quarterback Jake Locker’s hip injury following a second MRI on Tuesday. The team said Locker has officially been diagnosed with a sprained hip, confirmed that he will not require surgery to fix the problem and said that “we certainly would expect him to miss a few weeks, but we are encouraged by the news today.”
The Tennessean reported following Locker’s first MRI that it will take him four to six weeks to return. The Titans have upcoming games against Kansas City, Seattle and San Francisco before entering a bye weekend. So Locker could in theory come back for a Nov. 3 game in St. Louis against former Titans coach Jeff Fisher.
The team statement said Locker will need time to heal and strengthen the area, but said he’s already begun rehab for the hip injury as well as a sprained MCL injury suffered on the same play.
Ryan Fitzpatrick will get the call as a starter for the Titans this week, and indications are that the Titans will activate Rusty Smith from the practice squad as his back-up, as opposed to signing either of the two veteran quarterbacks — David Carr and John Skelton — that worked out for the team on Tuesday.
Smith has more than three years of experience in the organization, has played in parts of three games and even has one NFL start to his credit.
“You always have to prepare like you’re going to play, and even though I’ve been on the practice squad, you continue to watch film and prepare as best you can because of a situation like this,” Smith said Monday regarding a possible promotion from the practice squad. “If they decide to go with me, then they’re going to get exactly what I’ve been doing — preparing and watching film, working hard and doing my best to be ready.”
When the Titans do add their back-up quarterback, the team will need to make a corresponding personnel move to keep the roster at 53. Players that could potentially be cut would seem to include defensive linemen Keyunta Dawson or Lavar Edwards (who could go to the practice squad), as well as wide receiver Michael Preston.
Locker suffered his injury when he took two hits — from Muhammad Wilkerson and Quinton Coples — following an incomplete pass, and he appeared to twist his leg on the second hit.