After missing two games because of injury, Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker is expected to start on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.
Locker is set to start on Sunday barring any last-minute setback, sources confirmed to both ESPN and NFL.com.
Locker sprained his right hip and knee on Sept. 29 against the New York Jets. Tennessee lost both of their games played without Locker under center. Backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick played poorly in Locker's stead, creating a sense of urgency for Locker to return for the 3-3 Titans.
Locker began practicing earlier this week. He was spotted on Wednesday taking snaps and throwing passes in seven-on-seven drills; he also took snaps with the full team. Although he practiced, USA Today Sports noted Locker wore a knee brace and walked with a limp.
While Titans coach Mike Munchak hasn't confirmed whether Locker would start on Sunday, he declined throughout the week to rule the quarterback out.
"We're not declaring anything," Munchak told reporters on Wednesday, via USA Today sports. "We're not saying (Locker's) out. But we are going forward like Ryan's starting. But we want to see how fast Jake comes along."
Munchak apparently saw enough of what Locker could do on Friday and changed his tune. The Tennessean reported Locker took the "majority" of the quarterback reps at practice on Friday.
"We really want to get a feel for what (Locker) feels he can do well and what his limitations may or may not be," Munchak told reporters on Friday, via ESPN. "I thought on the field he handled himself really well."
