McNair frustrated he’s still sore despite time off
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Now if only his chest would stop hurting whenever he gets out of bed or throws a pass.
The NFL’s co-MVP of 2003 has played through pain from a list of injuries, but he said Wednesday that he still can’t take a direct hit 2 1/2 weeks after being knocked out of the Titans’ 20-3 loss at Minnesota on Oct. 24.
“I’m trying to fight through some of the pain and get some throwing in. The thing we’re worried about now is, ‘Can I take a hit?’ If I do take the right hit, it’s going to knock me out two to three more weeks,” McNair said.
“That’s the Catch-22 we’re working with right now.”
McNair was able to throw passes in a one-on-one drill and in a seven-on-seven drill Wednesday, his first work with teammates since his latest injury.
The Titans (3-5) listed him as questionable yet again on their injury report, and coach Jeff Fisher called McNair’s limited passing “encouraging.” He said the quarterback will be a game-time decision Sunday against Chicago (3-5).
“The issue is not throwing the football or running around with the ball, doing those kinds of things. The concern is just a hit,” Fisher said. “We want to make sure it’s not going to set him back, and any kind of contact is going to set him back.”
McNair is frustrated by this latest injury because he came back within two weeks after he first bruised his sternum in 2000 in a victory over Kansas City. But this is the second time the quarterback has bruised his chest this season.
He spent two nights in the hospital after being knocked out of a 15-12 loss to Jacksonville on Sept. 26, which caused him to sit out a loss to San Diego the next week. Then he was caught between a high-low hit on the first play of the second quarter at Minnesota.
McNair sat out the Titans’ 27-20 victory over Cincinnati on Oct. 31, a game in which coach Fisher said he would be a game-time decision before listing McNair as the No. 3 quarterback. McNair didn’t even dress for the game.
The quarterback was able to run last week and had extra rest as part of the Titans’ bye. But he’s just as sore as he was a week ago and thinks he may have torn cartilage in his chest.
“It’s very frustrating right now. It’s hard to sit and watch and wait,” McNair said.
The 10th-year pro is suffering through his worst season since he became a full-time starter in 1997.
McNair, who led the NFL in passer rating in 2003, is completing only 57 percent of his passes. His six interceptions through six games is only one off his total through 14 games last season, and he is just 86-of-151 for 907 yards passing.
With his poor play, the Titans are at the bottom of the AFC South, trying to keep some hope alive that a winning record remains possible.
The Titans can give him some extra protection with padding against a direct hit, which he would need against a Bears defense that had a season-high seven sacks last week. But McNair said nothing would help when he falls or someone lands on top of him.
If he doesn’t think he’s ready, then backup Billy Volek would make his third start this season.
“Right now, I’m just trying to do all I can to see how well I can progress until Sunday,” McNair said.