Vince Young's quad strain has his status for Sunday in complete limbo. The injury is clearly uncomfortable, but it is especially significant for a quarterback who likes to run around. Outside of some light throwing, Vince has done nothing in practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but that doesn't totally mean that he is out for Sunday.
He may be better by Saturday and, if so, he could play. Young has faced Houston twice before, so from a mental standpoint, he doesn't need the practice reps that he would need to see Tampa Bay or Atlanta for the first time.
Jeff Fisher said it and I believe him: Young could go this Sunday without much practice.
But Young and the Titans need his wheels. And right now, one of Vince's wheels is very sore.
Vince Young isn't just an NFL quarterback; he's a playmaker. Last Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings beat the Chicago Bears because Adrian Peterson isn't just a running back, he's a playmaker. Playmakers are hard to find in any sport and when you have one, they can lift your entire team in key moments.
That's why the Titans wanted VY. That's why they are 9-3 in their last 12 games with him at quarterback. This guy is a Porsche.
And you don't buy a Porsche and drive it in the right lane. You open it up.
That's what Fisher must weigh: if Young plays at Houston, is he well enough to open it up? Or are the Titans better off giving him a week off and letting his bum wheel heal?
From a competitive standpoint, it makes sense to not let Houston know what you are doing at quarterback. But this isn't a game of "Trick 'Em" for the Titans. With this injury, Tennessee probably does need the entire week to make an evaluation of Vince Young's quad.
And in the interim, Kerry Collins prepares for what would be his 149th career start. Collins spends no time lamenting the start of 2006 or complaining about the uncertainty. He had a good practice on Wednesday, another one on Thursday and will probably practice well on Friday and Saturday. Collins is simply a professional and, maybe most importantly, a good teammate.
One has to believe that Collins would relish a chance to run the show for the whole game. He's now been with the Titans for nearly 14 months. He's been through mini-camps and training camp. He's gotten to play some already this season. He figures to have the whole week of first-team reps. Rust, communication, adjusting to receivers and backs---not a problem.
This is why you re-signed Kerry Collins, for situations such as these.
Collins will be ready. But Vince Young is the Titans quarterback.
Vince or Kerry? As Jeff Fisher and the medical staff make the decision, they have to think of what's best not only for this weekend in Houston, but also the next ten weekends.
