Titans' Jake Locker expects to play

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Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker separated his left (non-throwing) shoulder in his team's Week 1 loss but expects to be able to play Sunday against the San Diego Chargers.

Locker had an MRI exam Monday to make sure he didn't suffer any structural damage to his shoulder.

Locker was sore Monday and may have to split work Wednesday with Matt Hasselbeck in practice. He also likely will wear a brace. The eighth pick overall in 2011 threw for 229 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and completed 71.9 percent of his passes in the Titans' 34-13 loss to New England.

"If we still feel he can be productive, run around and do the things he needs to do to play the position, then we're going to be fine with him playing," Tennessee coach Mike Munchak said. "If for some reason he's not able to do those things, then we won't put him in a position that he shouldn't be in."

But it's not a good early sign that Locker, in his first career start, led the Titans in rushing. He had 11 yards on two carries, with a holding penalty wiping out a big gain on a quarterback draw.

Tennessee ranked 31st in rushing last season when Chris Johnson had a career-low 1,047 yards after a holdout that kept him away all preseason. Johnson spent the offseason working in the team's program, and the Titans signed five-time All-Pro Steve Hutchinson to bring some veteran savvy to the interior at left guard.

At least the Titans will have Kenny Britt available after he sat out a one-game suspension for a driving under the influence arrest July 20.

Britt has had three knee surgeries in the past year, the first repairing a torn right ACL. He was activated off the physically unable to perform list Aug. 28 and had to stay away from the team starting the night of Sept. 1. Britt worked out with former NFL quarterback Neil O'Donnell last week, and Munchak said Britt worked with the team Monday and will practice Wednesday.

How much Britt can do remains to be seen.

"We just like to be able to say he's available to play on Sunday and take it from there," Munchak said.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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