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The 3-1 Tennessee Titans were set to be one of this season’s biggest surprises after wins over the Steelers, Chargers and most recently the Jets.
It looked as though the Titans – now tied with the Colts for the lead in the AFC South – had developed into a playoff-calibre team.
However, after the third-quarter injury to quarterback Jake Locker, Tennessee’s outlook suddenly has a cloud over it, and the loss could threaten to derail their promising start to the year.
When the third-year quarterback went down with his hip injury this weekend, he had already thrown three touchdowns, completing 18-of-24 passes for 149 yards, blowing the Jets out 24-6.
The hit itself looked nasty. Locker was struck in the pocket up top by the Jets’ defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson and then again by linebacker Quinton Coples.
Holding his hip as he hit the ground he had to be carted off the field, and after initial tests in the stadium was taken by ambulance to hospital for an MRI.
Head coach Mike Munchak and the rest of the Titans organisation are still waiting to find out exactly how bad the injury is, and 24 hours later Locker’s situation remains ambiguous.
Munchak: Locker hip still swollen, don't want to speculate on rehab. MRI again tomorrow. Knee also sore. #Titans
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) September 30, 2013
The team’s situation at quarterback remains equally dubious. Make no mistake, the Titans’ surprise rise in the AFC South was in no small part due to the development of Jake Locker.
Initially drafted in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft with the eighth overall selection, Locker struggled to justify his high selection.
Lukewarm performances coupled with an injury to his shoulder in 2012 saw him only play 11 games in his sophomore year, during which he threw 10 touchdowns to 11 interceptions, with a completion percentage of 56.4 percent and a quarterback rating of of 44.5.
For a period, it certainly looked like the Titans had failed to find their franchise QB, and the team fell to a 6-10 record and third in the division.
However, it seemed like the 25-year-old signal caller has turned a corner this season, and after four games he has managed a 62.2 completion percentage coupled with six touchdowns and – most importantly – zero turnovers.
It’s the lack of turnovers that stands out the most. Combined with a much-improved defencive unit the lack of giveaways has led to the Titans currently holding a nine-plus turnover differential, equal for best in the NFL (with the Chiefs).
The Titans have intercepted five balls and forced four fumbles in their first four games. That, coupled with their zero giveaways puts the team in a league of their own.
Currently, Tennessee are the only team in the NFL that haven’t suffered a single turnover (the Colts are the closest with only two).
It’s that ball security that has allowed the Titans to hang in games they might have otherwise been blown out of. It’s that aspect of Locker’s game that they’ll most miss.
Their second-string quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick, is an eight-year veteran, spending the majority of his time in Buffalo, playing there as their starter for three years.
The Titans went out and acquired Fitzpatrick to be the QB2 this offseason, so they have some confidence in him.
His one major concern might be what was Locker’s greatest strength this season: the turnovers.
Fitzpatrick currently has 93 touchdowns to 81 interceptions on his career.
In his three years as a starter for the Bills, he threw 71 touchdowns and 54 interceptions, that’s in addition to another 14 fumbles during that period.
Not what the Titans had in Locker, and not what they need to win games.
Now, the 3-1 team has to wait and hope their starting quarterback returns sooner rather than later. Lest a strong start to the season be thrown away.
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