National Football League

Titans QB Locker misses practice, status for Sunday in question

Published Sep. 24, 2014 7:32 p.m. ET

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Titans quarterback Jake Locker did not practice Wednesday because of an injured right wrist, and whether he plays against the Indianapolis Colts will depend on how much he heals up by Sunday.

The wrist on Locker's throwing arm was bent during the Titans' 33-7 loss at Cincinnati last week, and the quarterback said he felt something during the game.

"When the adrenaline stopped, it started hurting a little more ...," Locker said. "I'm just working as hard as I can to get back as soon as possible."

The timing couldn't be much worse for the Titans (1-2). They have lost two straight, and Locker has been intercepted twice in each loss. The quarterback is in the final year of his contract and already has missed 14 of a potential 32 starts the past two seasons. It's why the Titans didn't pick up his 2015 option back in May.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt said Locker didn't do much at all, which was why the quarterback was listed as not practicing. Whisenhunt said Locker followed practice closely mentally preparing. The coach said they knew the Titans face a "process" with Locker's wrist healing up.

"Nothing's changed about that," Whisenhunt said. "He's getting better. It's just a question of how quickly that progresses."

If Locker can't play Sunday in Indianapolis (1-2), then Charlie Whitehurst would make his first start since 2011 when he started two games and played in three for Seattle. Now in his ninth season, Whitehurst is 1-3 as a starter and has more interceptions (four) than touchdowns (three).

The Titans cut Ryan Fitzpatrick in March and signed Whitehurst because he spent last season with Whisenhunt in San Diego.

Whisenhunt said they have to see how Locker progresses the next couple days before knowing if they face a game-time decision on who starts at quarterback. This being his first season with Locker, the coach still is learning about his quarterback.

"All I can do is go off of talking with him and seeing how he prepares," Whisenhunt said. "He works hard. He's into it today. I respect that. We haven't gone through this process with a lot of our players, so I can't honestly answer that yet."

Whitehurst was limited himself this preseason by an injured right pinkie, and he still had the finger wrapped after practice Wednesday. If Locker can't play, then Whitehurst's backup would be rookie Zach Mettenberger who has been inactive the first three games.

The last time Whitehurst appeared in a game was twice last season in San Diego, the last on Dec. 8 against the Giants. The last game he threw a pass in was Oct. 30, 2011, when he was 4 of 7 for 52 yards against Cincinnati while with Seattle. Whitehurst was sacked eight times in three appearances that season.

"It's been a while since I've been in a meaningful game for sure," Whitehurst said. "You just want to prepare. I'll be ready for it."

Veteran Colts backup quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who played with the Titans during Locker's first two seasons, said it's extremely difficult to play with any injury to the right arm.

"Now Jake is a really, really tough kid, so nothing would surprise me if he's able to go," Hasselbeck said. "But they'd still be in good hands with Whitehurst, who I played with in Seattle. I just think Jake is a really tough kid."

Notes: TE Delanie Walker (shoulder) and TE Taylor Thompson (knee) also did not practice. DE Ropati Pitoitua (knee) and LB James Anderson (thigh) were limited.

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