Titans Lose Jake Locker for Season

After seeing Jake Locker leave the Tennessee Titans‘ already devastating 29-27 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday with a foot injury, the Titans feared their quarterback might be done for the season, and unfortunately, those fears were confirmed on Monday.

Titans head coach Mike Munchak made the official announcement, telling reporters that Locker suffered a Lisfranc injury, as the team initially suspected. It’s unclear if the injury will require surgery, but what is clear is that it will keep Locker sidelined for the remainder of 2013.

“It’s very disappointing. It’s hard on the team,” Munchak said, according to The Tennessean. “To lose him now, it is a huge blow.”

After dropping Sunday’s contest to the previously winless Jags, the Titans are now 4-5 on the season – still two games behind the AFC South-leading Indianapolis Colts, whom the Titans will face on Thursday. Backup Ryan Fitzpatrick will take over at QB, as he did for two starts earlier this year when Locker suffered a hip injury. Fitzpatrick lost both of his previous starts this season, but with the Titans’ playoff hopes slipping away, there’s no room for error now.

“Ryan has no choice but to play good,” tight end Delanie Walker said. “I feel like he did a great job vs. the Jaguars. Now, he has to be the man. It hurts to lose your starting quarterback, but when it’s your time you have to step up and play.”

While Tennessee still has a chance to salvage its 2013 season with Fitzpatrick under center, Locker’s early exit – which marks his second straight injury-shortened season – brings the team’s future at the position into question.

“He’s the guy we thought would be here for a long time, and that still may work out,” Munchak said. “It’s just that right now, it’s disappointing, last year and this year, that he wasn’t able to finish this season and really find out what team we have and what kind of team we could become on offense.”

For now, the Titans may have to revert back to the running game, which has served them fairly well this season, as they enter week 11 ranked 13th in the league in rushing yards (111.2 per game). However, with Fitzpatrick back at the helm, the Titans will certainly be at a bigger disadvantage than they already were this week in going against one of the AFC’s top teams.

Look for the Colts to cover -3 on the road on Thursday night against the banged-up Titans.