Jake Locker Reportedly Will Be Starting QB for Titans in 2012 Season

The Tennessee Titans have finally decided on a starting quarterback.

The team has elected to go with second-year standout Jake Locker over aging veteran Matt Hasselbeck, according to Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.

"

The #Titans have made a decision on their starting QB for the regular season -- it's Jake Locker, sources say

— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) August 20, 2012"

Many following the team through training camp and preseason could see the writing on the wall, and once the Titans announced that Locker would be getting the starting gig for the second preseason contest, it was only a matter of time before he earned the full-time job.

While the 24-year-old struggled to throw the ball in his first start against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-for-11, 21 yards, one interception), he looked mobile (two rushes for 24 yards) and put together a drive that led to a score.

Hasselbeck fared a bit better in that game, going 4-for-5 for 29 yards, but he threw two interceptions in his first preseason outing. The mistakes by the 36-year-old prompted head coach Mike Munchak to hand the reins to Locker, and it doesn’t seem like he will be looking back.

Locker now has two more tune-up games against the Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints before the Titans open with a tough match at home against the New England Patriots.

The former Washington Huskies star will be counted on to improve in all areas over the next few weeks and give this Tennessee squad a chance to make the postseason in 2013.

It’s not going to be easy, but Locker was a top-10 pick and must bear the burden of being a franchise QB. He’s been given a chance to shine, so let’s see what the young man makes of it.

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