NASHVILLE, Tenn. —Titans tight end Delanie Walker prides himself on being a tough guy, the kind of player who calls a cut that requires 12 inches to close just a scratch.
So Walker, who suffered a thumb injury in Thursday's practice, doesn't expect to be sidelined too long.
"It is not too bad; I should be OK,'' Walker said. "I don't think it's anything serious. Doctors just wanted to make sure it was nothing serious.'
Walker, who led the team in catches (63) and receiving yards (890) in 2014, is one player the Titans can't afford to lose.
The Titans lost him for the second half of Thursday's practice when he suffered the hand injury. Walker went to the locker room, and saw doctors. In the locker room, Walker's left thumb was bandaged and taped. He said he needed 12 stitches. The injury occurred when safety Da'Norris Searcy collided with Walker while breaking up a Marcus Mariota pass over the middle.
"I'm not concerned about it," Walker said. "The trainers just wanted me to be smart about it, so I just went inside and made sure everything was OK with it."
Walker said he planned to meet with a hand doctor, 'just to make sure everything is OK."
"He's a tough guy," coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "You don't want to wear him out too much in camp anyway. (An injury) is never a great thing, but he's a guy who's done a great job for us. He'll be ready."
Right tackle Byron Bell left the field early with a sore jaw after a collision, but Whisenhunt doesn't think the injury is serious.
Rookie Jeremiah Poutasi stepped in and finished practice with the first-team offense at right tackle.
