Jake Locker Injury: Updates on Titans Star's Hand and Return

Updates from Sunday, Oct. 26

The Tennessee Titans confirmed that Jake Locker is active for Sunday's game:

Updates from Friday, Oct. 24

John Glennon of The Tennessean reported on Jake Locker's status for Sunday:

Updates from Wednesday, Oct. 22

Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean passed along comments from Ken Whisenhunt on Jake Locker's status:

Updates from Monday, Oct. 20

The Titans' official Twitter feed has an update on Locker's status:

ESPN's Paul Kuharsky and Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean added more on the Titans' quarterback situation:

Updates from Sunday, Oct. 19

The Titans confirmed Jake Locker would not play in Week 7:

Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com provides an update on Locker's status for Week 8 from head coach Ken Whisenhunt:

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After sitting out two games with a bruised right thumb suffered against Cleveland, Jake Locker should be in line to return against Houston next Sunday at LP Field.

“I would expect him to be able to go next week,” coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “But until we go out and practice, I don’t know that for sure.”

"

Updates from Friday, Oct. 17

The Titans provided an update on Locker's status:

 Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean provides his take on who will start at quarterback this week:

Updates from Thursday, Oct. 16:

Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean provides an update on Jake Locker's injury from head coach Jake Locker: 

Updates from Wednesday, Oct. 15 

Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean provides an update on Jake Locker's status: 

Terry McCormick of Titans Insider has more from Locker:

Wyatt and McCormick pass along head coach Ken Whisenhunt's comments on Locker:

Updates from Monday, Oct. 13

John Glennon of The Tennessean and Terry McCormick of TitansInsider.com have the latest on Locker's status:

Updates from Sunday, Oct. 12

The Titans announced Jake Locker will not play in Week 6:

Updates from Friday, Oct. 10

Titansinsider.com's Terry McCormick has the latest on Locker:

Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean has more detail on Locker's status:

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Titans quarterback Jake Locker didn't practice again on Friday, and he's not expected to play on Sunday against the Jaguars.

Locker continues to be bothered by the thumb injury he suffered last week against the Browns. He made some soft tosses in the open portion of practice, but was officially listed as a non-participant on the Injury Report.

The Titans listed Locker as questionable, but back-up Charlie Whitehurst is expected to start in his place.

"

Updates from Thursday, Oct. 9

Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean has an update on Locker following practice on Thursday:

Terry McCormick of Titans Insider adds more from head coach Ken Wisenhunt:

Updates from Wednesday, Oct. 8

Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean provides an update on Jake Locker's injury: 

John Glennon of The Tennessean passes along more details from practice:

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Titans quarterback Jake Locker did some throwing before the start of Wednesday's practice and remains hopeful of increasing his work as the week continues.

Officially, Locker – who has a swollen right thumb – did not practice on Wednesday, but both he and Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt said Locker did make some throws.

"It feels good, it's getting better," Locker said. "I was able to do some things. I participated a little bit and it felt good. We'll just continue to get the swelling down and it should continue to feel better.

"

Updates from Monday, Oct. 6

Ken Whisenhunt updated Jake Locker's status following his injury on Sunday, via the Titans:

Original Text

The word "potential" has been thrown around for Jake Locker since he was a rookie for the Tennessee Titans in 2011. Unfortunately, injuries have derailed the young quarterback's career.

Locker suffered yet another injury in the Titans' Week 5 matchup with the Cleveland Browns, per the team:

John Glennon of The Tennessean reported more on Locker's injury:  

Locker returned to the sideline for the second half, but he did so in street clothes, via Paul Kuharsky of ESPN:

Following the game, Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean passed along comments from Locker:

The 26-year-old has accumulated a long history of ailments during his career, including a Lisfranc injury to his right foot that shut him down for the year in November 2013. Earlier this season, he also suffered a wrist injury during Week 3.

During that Week 3 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs, Locker put together a poor performance. Mike Clay of Pro Football Focus noted the QB's statistics during the game:

Needless to say, those are not the type of numbers Tennessee expected when it took him with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft.

Even through injuries and a lack of production on the field, Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt stood by Locker, per Terry McCormick of 247Sports:

"

Jake is still our quarterback. ... One of the things that you asked me when I first got here was what would I do differently. One of the things was patience with the quarterback. Jake has to play better. Once again, we all have to play better.

It always comes back to the quarterback, whether it's good or bad. ... There are a number of examples where it's not always Jake's fault. We all have to play better.

"

If Locker is forced to miss time, Charlie Whitehurst could get a chance to prove himself under center. The Titans signed Whitehurst to a multiyear deal earlier this year to become the backup. He also has the confidence of Whisenhunt if he's forced to step in, as Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean previously reported:

Losing Locker is obviously far from ideal, but given his injury history, the team wisely prepared for the possibility in the offseason. Along with signing Whitehurst, the Titans drafted Zach Mettenberger out of LSU in the 2014 draft, who also came to the NFL with injury concerns.

The Titans have weapons surrounding whoever is under center, but they can't seem to find stability at the position. Despite the flashes of potential Locker has shown, Tennessee needs consistency that the young quarterback simply hasn't been able to provide.

Follow @RCorySmith on Twitter.