Locker to have MRI on Monday

HOUSTON _ Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker will have an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of his left shoulder injury.

Locker left the game on the second series of the Titans' 38-14 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday after a direct hit on a blitz from Houston's Glover Quin. Locker had been playing with a shoulder harness since being knocked out of the season opener against the New England Patriots.

The second-year QB said he knew as soon as he absorbed the hit that his shoulder had separated again.

“I didn't have any doubt that it had happened again,” Locker said of the injury.

Locker had x-rays taken at Reliant Stadium and has his left arm in a sling he he returned to the Titans sideline in the second quarter with the arm in a sling.

Locker said he never saw Quin on the blitz, saying, “I would have done something about it if I had seen him.”

Neither Locker nor Titans coach Mike Munchak gave any indication yet as to whether the quarterback might miss some time the latest recurrence of his injury.

“I think we need to find out exactly what happened and then we'll make the decision that is best,” Munchak said.

“It definitely hurt losing Jake. You don't ever want to see your quarterback go down,” receiver Damian Williams said.

Matt Hasselbeck stepped in for Locker, and though he was 17 of 25 with two touchdowns, he also had two interceptions returned for touchdowns by the Texans in the second half.

With Locker injured and Rusty Smith inactive, Hasselbeck admitted that part of his mindset was to make sure he didn't get hurt and leave the Titans without a quarterback.

“I was definitely in the thought process during the game that under no circumstances are you allowed to get hurt, because I don't know what happens after that,” Hasselbeck said. “I don't know if I handled that as well. I don't know if I stepped into some throws that I wanted to step into, stuff like that. In terms of what happens tomorrow and the next day, I'm not sure. He's a tough kid, and I'm sure he'll be OK.”