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

Jake Locker injured his shoulder in Week 15 vs. the Jets and did not return to the contest. The quarterback was later placed on injured reserve, ending his season.

Continue for updates.

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Locker Placed on Injured Reserve

Monday, Dec. 15

The Tennessee Titans confirmed that Jake Locker has gone on injured reserve:

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Locker Injures Shoulder, Does Not Return

Sunday, Dec. 15

Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker suffered a shoulder injury in Week 15 and was forced to leave the game against the New York Jets

Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean provided more information about the injury:

Charlie Whitehurst would take over under center for Locker, who was ruled questionable to return by the Titans.  

After the loss, Wyatt and Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com provided an update: 

It has been a tumultuous season for Locker. Poor play plagued the early portion of the schedule and a thumb injury forced him out of the starting job. After fellow quarterback Whitehurst faltered in Locker's absence, head coach Ken Whisenhunt named rookie Zach Mettenberger as his team’s starter for the foreseeable future.

Mettenberger would later injure his shoulder and be ruled out for the remainder of the season, opening the door for Locker.

For Locker, this could be the end of his career with the Titans. The organization declined the club option on his contract, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean, and he will be a free agent after this season.

Locker was drafted eighth overall in the 2011 draft and was expected to be the quarterback of the future for the organization. During his four years in Tennessee, Locker missed time each season while dealing with injuries and has only thrown for 26 touchdowns in his 27 careers games.

Mettenberger may not be the long-term answer either, but the Titans would be smart to cut their losses with Locker and move on.

*Stats via NFL.com.