NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Jake Locker’s hip is injured seriously enough that the Tennessee Titans quarterback is spending the night in a hospital.
Locker was taken to the hospital late during the Titans’ 38-13 win over the Jets on Sunday, and a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that Locker was staying overnight. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Titans had not commented on Locker’s status.
The Tennessean first reported that Locker was admitted to St. Thomas Midtown Hospital.
Locker was hurt in the third quarter when Muhammad Wilkerson hit the quarterback in the chest, and then Quinton Coples popped Locker in the side. Locker grabbed at his right hip area as he went to the ground with 11:14 left in the third quarter. He was carted to the locker room with his right leg stretched straight out. Locker was taken to a hospital by ambulance.
Titans coach Mike Munchak said the team did not know the extent of the injury when he talked with reporters after a 38-13 victory over the Jets.
“He was in pain, and we don’t know much more than that,” he said. “He went to the hospital. They’re checking on him now, so we’ll get more information later. That’s all we really have.”
Munchak said nothing had popped out in the hip, but Locker was having pain in his leg.
Locker already had the first three-touchdown game of his career when he left, and he was 18 of 24 for 149 yards.
“This is the worst I’ve felt after a victory like this in a long time,” Titans offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I know he was hurt. If he misses one play in the game, then he was in pain.”
Wilkerson said he didn’t know at first that Locker was hurt. The Jets defensive end said he took a step before hitting Locker and that the ref even told him it a clean hit.
“If it was late, the ref would have thrown a flag,” Wilkerson said. “They didn’t throw a flag.”
Ryan Fitzpatrick replaced Locker and was 3 of 8 for 108 yards with a touchdown pass.
Jets wide receiver Stephen Hill suffered a head injury on New York’s opening series against Tennessee, and was out for the game.
Titans cornerback Alterraun Verner stepped in front of Hill on the Jets’ second offensive play and intercepted Geno Smith’s pass. Safety Michael Griffin then knocked Hill down with a hit near his head, and the receiver stayed on the ground for a few minutes before being helped up and walking to the sideline.
Hill, who had his first 100-yard receiving game last week against Buffalo, was not on the field for the Jets’ second offensive possession. He was evaluated, and officials announced in the second quarter that Hill would not return.
Jets coach Rex Ryan did not have an update on Hill after the game.
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