McNair ailing, likely out until Friday; Mauck gets snaps
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Steve McNair's right pectoral muscle remained sore enough Wednesday that Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher didn't expect him to practice until at least Friday.
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| Mauck |
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| McNair |
So the Titans gave his practice work to third-string quarterback Matt Mauck.
Backup quarterback Billy Volek finished last week's loss to Miami when McNair left after his second interception. He was sacked four times and fumbled twice.
That may have prompted the decision to let Mauck work with the first-team offense on a team that has plenty of decisions to make about its quarterbacks after ending the season at Jacksonville on Sunday.
McNair's contract must be renegotiated for him to return, and Volek's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has said his client wants to be a starter.
"What we did today, we got Matt Mauck the reps in the event that Steve can't play, we'll have an opportunity in the ballgame to get Matt some playing time," Fisher said.
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| Volek |
"We know what Billy can do. Billy's done a great job for us as a reliever off the bench, as a starter. He's won games for us. We don't know much about Matt."
The Titans signed Mauck to their practice squad after he was released by Denver in September in the final roster cuts and promoted him to the roster Sept. 28. The former LSU quarterback spent 2004 on Denver's practice squad before being promoted to the active roster for the playoffs.
Mauck's lone appearance this season came in a 20-10 loss at Arizona when he was 8-of-13 for 71 yards after Volek was knocked out of the game.
The Titans also may be limited at receiver. Tyrone Calico (hamstring), and Drew Bennett (knee) sat out practice along with McNair and tight end Erron Kinney (knee). Running back Chris Brown (ankle) also watched practice, with all listed as questionable.
Bennett also has an aggravated groin, but Fisher said the Titans hope to have him back Thursday or Friday.
Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press



