NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Look at the number of Tennessee Titans scratched from their second preseason game, and the team seems to be having injury problems. Listen to coach Jeff Fisher, and everything appears to be fine.
Welcome to the preseason when NFL coaches don't have to produce injury reports.
Fisher scratched nine Titans, including four starters, from the lineup for Saturday night's 27-20 win over Tampa Bay.
Right tackle David Stewart was supposed to have tests to check the swollen knee that kept him out. Fisher said Sunday that tests hadn't been run, but the injury was not serious.
"It's not unrealistic to say we should have everybody back working in some capacity this week,'' Fisher said.
That makes the Titans sound pretty healthy, except that is about what Fisher said a week ago about a smaller handful of players including starting middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch, defensive end Jacob Ford, linebacker Colin Allred, defensive tackle Jason Jones and fullback Casey Cramer.
Tulloch sat out the Hall of Fame game on Aug. 9 due to tendinitis in his knee and has not returned to practice. Ford hasn't practiced since Aug. 2 because of a strained hamstring, and Allred hasn't practiced since the first week of camp because of a high ankle sprain.
Jones is the tackle being counted on most to help replace Albert Haynesworth, but Jones has had his right foot in a boot since the Hall of Fame game and was among those scratched Saturday night.
All Pro center Kevin Mawae remains on the physically-unable-to-perform list after offseason surgery to repair a torn right biceps tendon. His goal is to play at least once in the preseason with the focus being ready to start Sept. 10 in the NFL regular-season opener at Pittsburgh.
Mark Jones was signed to try to replace Chris Carr, a free agent loss to Detroit, as the kick and punt returner. He hasn't taken part in a full practice since the first day of camp July 31.
The injury list appeared to lengthen Saturday when rookie receiver Kenny Britt twisted an ankle that sent him to the locker room at the end of the third quarter. Titans quarterback Vince Young's hamstring tightened up, bringing Patrick Ramsey in during the third quarter.
Fisher said Sunday he assumes Britt, the No. 30 pick overall and the first receiver drafted by this team since 1998, is going to be fine.
"He didn't show up for treatment. If you don't show up for treatment, you have to practice the next day,'' Fisher said.
NOTES: Fisher said that quarterback Kerry Collins will start Friday at Dallas. The coach had said Young might start this preseason, and added Sunday that Young could get in with the rest of the first-team offense after Collins starts.
