Tennessee Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck sat out Wednesday's practice to rest a sore knee that was hit on the side in Sunday's loss to Cincinnati and also to rest the thumb he injured three weeks ago against Houston.
Fullback Ahmard Hall (left) and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck were two of the Titans players who sat out Wednesday's practice with minor nicks.
Neither injury is serious, and it won't affect Hasselbeck in preparing for the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. In fact, even before the leg was hit, Munchak and offensive coordinator had already planned to let Hasselbeck have a Wednesday off to allow the 36-year-old quarterback a chance to rest.
“Like last week, that was more of a coaching decision with Chris and myself and thinking that we would give him a little break,” Titans coach Mike Munchak said. “He could have practiced today but especially with the second half of the season, we thought that with the leg a little sore, his hand is a little sore, from this part of the season so we thought we would give him a little rest and then we will have him out here tomorrow.”
Several other Titans players also sat out practice on Wednesday as well.
Those included receiver Nate Washington (hip), tight end Jared Cook (knee), defensive end Dave Ball (concussion), fullback Ahmard Hall (back), linebacker Barrett Ruud (groin) and safety Chris Hope (forearm), who practiced for the first time since breaking his left arm against Cleveland on Oct. 2.
Of those, all except Ball are expected to play Sunday. Of those who missed, all of them are likely to practice later in the week, except of course, Ball.
Receiver Lavelle Hawkins is not listed on the injury report, but still has stitches in his right hand on his index finger after suffering an open dislocation vs. Cincinnati.
Cook, who bruised his knee in the fourth quarter on Sunday, said he is improving.
“It's feeling a little sore, but it's getting better. On the play where I fumbled, I got hit on it and once they finally pulled me down, I just fell on it wrong. I was hoping to get in to all the practices this week, but the injury is not allowing me to do that,” he said.
As for Washington, he said his injured hip is much better, even though he sat out Wednesday and might not be back till Friday.
“It feels a lot better. I don't know when Coach Munchak is going to allow me to practice again. I'm not too worried about it. My main job is to come in and do the work and get healthy,” Washington said.
As for Ruud, who has only missed one game in his NFL career, he said he is hopeful he will be able to go.
“I'm kind of just going day to day right now and get it as good as possible. I don't know for sure right now, but I'm planning on it,” Ruud said.
As for Hope, Munchak said he split reps with Jordan Babineaux on Wednesday in his first practice back from his broken forearm. Hope might not come back as the immediate starter, due to stamina concerns and such. But even if he can't, Munchak said he would probably be used in some situations.
"I think in that kind of spot, it would be something, where assuming all the what-ifs are he is 100 percent ready to go and they feel good about it," Munchak said. "I’m assuming it will be more of a rotation thing where they will both play. I don’t expect him to come in after missing five weeks and his endurance and all of those things will be in a position where we can put him in a position to play that much in the game."
- Terry McCormick
- co-publiser of TitanInsider - Lions247