NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Vince Young wants to play Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. Whether his right hamstring is healthy enough to let him remains to be seen.
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The Tennessee Titans' quarterback didn't practice Wednesday, instead watching with the hood of his sweat shirt over his head most of the time. A quick healer, Young said he feels much better than when he strained the back of his right leg during last weekend's 47-7 victory over the St. Louis Rams. And he wants to play Sunday as the Titans (6-7) try to keep their faint playoff hopes alive.
"I was hurt last week with a bum knee, I was still out there moving around," Young said. "Football is football, man. It's the love of the game, man, and right now we need a couple of wins to do what we need to do. I'm just taking my time and be safe on the safe side. At the same time, I'll be out there. Hopefully, I'll be out there."
Young is 6-1 as a starter since returning to the lineup and is part of the Titans' rebound from their 0-6 start. The fourth-year pro is 4-0 at home, where he has completed 69.1 percent of his passes for 854 yards with four touchdowns and only one interception for a 107.3 rating.
Young didn't practice last Friday after aggravating his right knee the previous day and played very well Sunday before he pulled up at the end of a 44-yard run that was the longest of his NFL career. Young left with the Titans leading 14-0, having completed 6 of 8 passes for 132 yards and one touchdown.
"I want to play. I definitely want to play," Young said. "At the same time, it's day to day. All I can do is treat it and take care of it."
Young said this injury is much milder than in 2007 when he strained his right quadriceps muscle, an injury that kept him out of the team's next game in Houston, his hometown. He said whether he's able to practice at all Thursday will depend on how his leg feels and what the trainers say.
Titans coach Jeff Fisher had hoped Young could practice Wednesday and now is optimistic about the quarterback being available Thursday. But Fisher also has said Young knows the offense well enough that he could play without practicing. Backup Kerry Collins, who threw for 154 yards last week in relief of Young, took the work in practice Wednesday.
"The bottom line is he's got a big future, long future ahead of him, and he knows what's best for the team to make good decisions on this injury," Fisher said of Young. "If he can go, then he'll go."
Titans running back Chris Johnson benefits from having the more mobile Young on the field and is optimistic that the quarterback will be ready to play against the Dolphins (7-6).
"He told me he's going to play, so I expect him to be out there," Johnson said.
The Dolphins, who are one game behind the New England Patriots in the AFC East, are wasting no time worried about which quarterback to prepare for in this game. Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said it's December, so they prepare for the starter.
"We're expecting to see Vince, were preparing for Vince, and if Kerry plays, then so be it," Sparano said. "I think at this time of year, you have to prepare for the starter to play."
Notes: Young was among nine Titans players who didn't practice Wednesday, including starting LB David Thornton. Fisher said doctors still are conducting tests on Thornton's shoulder, an injury that knocked him out against the Rams. ... C Kevin Mawae (back), DT Tony Brown (knee), DE Eric Bakhtiari (concussion), LB Keith Bulluck (rest) and TE Craig Stevens (concussion) also didn't practice. WR Nate Washington (ankle) was limited.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press
