ESPN NFL

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Rookie quarterback Jason Gesser took all the snaps Wednesday in practice for the Tennessee Titans, while Steve McNair tossed a few balls and rested his ailing left ankle.

	McNair

	Volek

The only appearance veteran Neil O'Donnell made was having his name placed on his old locker. That may be as close as O'Donnell gets to the Titans, who are being squeezed by salary cap constraints.

Coach Jeff Fisher said there's a chance the Titans (10-4) could have just two quarterbacks Sunday when they visit the Houston Texans (5-9) if they can't get a deal done quickly with O'Donnell.

"We may look around and see what's out there," Fisher said. "But reality is getting someone ready to play the ballgame in a couple days is going to be hard, so we may very well go into this game with just two quarterbacks."

The Titans started talking with O'Donnell after losing backup quarterback Billy Volek for the season because of a lacerated spleen suffered in his first NFL start last weekend. Volek remained in a hospital Wednesday. Team officials said he was improving and may be discharged in another day or two.

O'Donnell, 37, returned to the Titans in June after being cut for salary cap reasons in February, and he still wants a chance to win a Super Bowl ring. Now the biggest stumbling block is finding enough salary cap space to sign the 13-year veteran.

Wednesday's editions of the Tennessean reported that O'Donnell may not be able to join the team until next week.

According to the report, Tennessee is about $73,000 under the league's salary cap and wanted to sign O'Donnell under the NFL's "split" contract provision that helps teams sign veteran players by lowering their value against the cap.

The Titans believed that a minimum contract for O'Donnell would prorate to just under $53,000 for the regular season's final two weeks. The NFL, however, told the team that O'Donnell does not qualify for a split contract because of the remaining $45,000 in signing bonus from his prior contract, which increases O'Donnell's cap charge above the amount of room the team has remaining.

The report states that, since NFL players are paid for the week if they are on the roster as of Tuesday afternoon, it is now too late for the team to release a player to make room for O'Donnell. There's a possibility O'Donnell, who represents himself in contract negotiations, could also ask for more than a minimum salary.

The Titans were looking into other options, such as a restructuring another player's contract. Signing O'Donnell next week, when they could afford his contract, appeared to be the most likely option. In that case, O'Donnell would be available for the season-finale against the Buccaneers, as well as the postseason.

Running back Eddie George said it was encouraging to see O'Donnell's name on his old locker.

"I'd be more excited to see him walking around this locker room," George said.

Gesser, whose belongings had been moved to a temporary locker, said he understands the logic of bringing back O'Donnell. Gesser may have shared the Pac-10's offensive player of the year honors last season with Carson Palmer, but he has no NFL experience.

"I haven't taken a rep in a regular-season, let alone a playoff game. That's going to be kind of hard to adjust to," Gesser said.

The Titans won't need a second quarterback Sunday unless McNair, the NFL's top-rated passer, can't play or is reinjured during the game.

Fisher said whether McNair plays will likely be a gametime decision Sunday, but the Titans can clinch their fourth playoff berth in five years with a victory over the Texans.

McNair sat out last week's game because of pain from a cracked bone spur in his sprained left ankle. Still, McNair surprised team officials with how well he could move just before kickoff following a pain-killing injection.

The quarterback, who was on crutches this time last week, walked off the practice field without a limp Wednesday, and Fisher said there was a chance McNair might do something in practice Friday.

McNair, who immediately went in for more treatment of his ankle, followed by meetings, wasn't available for comment.

His teammates expect McNair to play, if possible.

"He plays hurt. He plays injured, and he plays with the bumps and bruises and the aches and pains," right tackle Fred Miller said. "That's just Steve. We think he's one of the best around here because he does that."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.