Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker sustained a hip injury in Sunday's 38-13 victory over the New York Jets. While the severity of Locker's injury is unknown, he's likely to miss games, which leads to Ryan Fitzpatrick starting under center. If Locker's injury is severe, could a trade for Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman ever become an option?
Locker fell early in the third quarter after a hit from Quinton Coples. Locker clutched his hip and was carted back to the locker room; he eventually left for a hospital in an ambulance. The early indications, according to the Tennessean, are the injury isn't "as bad as first feared."
The Titans don't believe the injury to be season ending after the initial X-rays came back negative, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The team expects Locker to miss four to eight weeks.
Still, the Titans won't know the extent of the injury or have an exact timetable for Locker's return until the results of the MRI are available.
He remained hospitalized on Monday morning to undergo further testing.
Fitzpatrick is the next quarterback in line. The nine-year pro can be a stopgap quarterback, but if Locker is out for the season, the Titans could look to "rent" Freeman for the season.
Freeman is in the last year of his deal. One big holdup for teams interested in Freeman is his expensive contract, which is set to earn him $8.43 million this year. Tennessee would likely need to include at least one other player in the trade to make the salary cap situation work if the team was desperate enough to pick up Freeman.
As for Freeman, it'd be an opportunity to audition for a job with a team next season.
The Titans are 3-1 and have the potential to make the postseason. It's hypothetical, but should Locker miss most of the season and Fitzpatrick struggle early on, Tennessee could look for another option at quarterback to save its season.
The NFL trade deadline is Oct. 29.
