Titans QB Jake Locker's Status Uncertain for Sunday's Game versus Colts

During Sunday's blowout loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker suffered a wrist injury.  There was no structural damage to his wrist, but he was diagnosed with a wrist strain.  Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean says that Locker's status for this upcoming Sunday's game against the Colts won't be determined until later in the week, writing:

"Locker remains sore, and his progress will be monitored during the course of the week. The Titans want to see how he responds to treatment, and whether or not the soreness subsides.

"Back-up Charlie Whitehurst would start if Locker's condition doesn't improve. Coach Ken Whisenhunt was unclear on Monday when Locker suffered the injury, but said he was sore in the locker room afterward and said he'd have trouble gripping a football."

The Titans come to Indianapolis Sunday for an AFC South matchup with the Colts, who last week dominated the Jaguars in a 44-17 win.  The Colts this week return home to host the Titans (1-2), and they may face the Titans' backup quarterback, Charlie Whitehurst, if Locker's condition doesn't improve.  Right now, his status is uncertain.

So far this short season, Locker has completed 57 of 101 passes (56.4%) for 685 yards, 3 touchdowns and 4 interceptions for a passer rating of 70.8.  Locker has also added 73 yards rushing, and it's fair to say that the Titans' struggles go far beyond him.  That said, Titans fans and media are losing patience.  The Tennessean's David Climer wrote earlier this week:

"This is getting dangerously close to the point of no return. If Locker can't right things in short order, the Titans will have no choice but to plot a different course at quarterback. You just can't keep playing like this and stand pat. Fans, especially long-suffering fans like those who follow the Titans, must be given a reason for hope.

"Right now, it's hard to get very excited about the Titans. The past two weeks have been particularly hard to accept."

While Locker hasn't been great, his backup Charlie Whitehurst hasn't thrown a pass in a regular season game since 2011.  Also, rookie Zach Mettenberger, the team's third string quarterback, is expected to miss some practice time earlier in the week due to a death in the family.

What does all of this mean?  It means that the Titans' quarterback position is very much up in the air right now.  We don't know who is going to play on Sunday versus the Colts - if Locker is healthy it will be him, but it's very uncertain whether he will be ready.  If he's not ready to go, it will be Whitehurst.  For a Colts team who's defensive strength has clearly been their cornerbacks, the quarterback situation in Tennessee is good news.  For the Titans?  Not so much.