Titans Decline Fifth Year Option on QB Jake Locker
Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker will enter the 2014 NFL season with a lot to prove. The often injured and inconsistent young passer was going to have to face that reality anyways, but the pressure on him grew even more with the announcement that the Titans would not be picking up his fifth year option in 2015.
Locker is scheduled to make just over $2 million in 2014, but would cost the Titans over $14 million if he was picked up for his fifth season.
The news essentially makes Locker a lame duck entering his fourth NFL season, as he tries to prove to new head coach Ken Whisenhunt and the rest of the Tennessee coaching staff that he is indeed the right man for the job under center.
Locker hasn’t been able to prove that yet, unfortunately, as he’s struggled to stay on the field due to numerous injuries. In 2013 alone, Locker missed nine games due to hip and foot injuries. Last season wasn’t Locker’s first run in with missed time, however, as he also sat out of four games in 2012 due to injury.
Even when Locker has been on the field, the reviews have been mixed, as the young quarterback has struggled mightily with pocket presence, accuracy, consistency and decision-making.
While it appears Locker is still very much a work in progress, it is at least encouraging that he was enjoying his best statistical start to his career in 2013 before going down with a hip injury in week four. Through the first four games, Locker had been nearly flawless, putting up six touchdowns to no interceptions, while even engineering a fourth quarter comeback in a win against the San Diego Chargers in week three.
Coach Whizenhunt has given Locker a lukewarm backing, while the team not picking up his fifth year option tells the young quarterback all he needs to know; the time for him to realize his potential is now.
Blessed with great size, elite athleticism and a cannon arm, Locker still has a real chance at proving his doubters wrong and sticking with the Titans beyond 2014. He’ll just need to have his best season yet to do it.
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