NASHVILLE, Tenn. — An injured Vince Young tossed his shoulder pads and No. 10 jersey into the stands following Tennessee’s 19-16 overtime loss to the Washington Redskins on Sunday.
Young, who injured his right thumb late in the third quarter and was replaced by rookie Rusty Smith, left for the locker room but returned to the sideline and had the thumb taped and retaped in an effort to return. He even tried a glove, but coach Jeff Fisher stuck with Smith.
After the game, Young walked toward the tunnel and suddenly tossed his shoulder pads and jersey into the stands.
A few minutes later, he walked past reporters already dressed, ignoring questions and an old college teammate who tried to talk to him. Three hours after the game, Young wrote on Twitter that he was fine and apologized to his teammates. He then tweeted, “Just want to play.”
Fisher said Young has a torn flexor tendon in his right thumb and may need season-ending surgery. Either way, Fisher says Smith now is Tennessee’s starter after Young’s latest meltdown that has the fifth-year veteran’s future with the Titans in question during a season in which he needed to prove he could be the franchise quarterback.
“He threw half his uniform in the stands. I think clearly that is no way to respond, and so we have some things that we have to sort out with him,” Fisher said of Young. “He may need surgery. And if that’s the case, he’s done for the year.”
Fisher and Young spoke in the locker room in what apparently was a heated discussion. Fisher wouldn’t discuss what Young said to him.
“That is between me and him and the team,” Fisher said.
Browns’ McCoy hurt.
Cleveland quarterback Colt McCoy left Jacksonville in a walking boot.
McCoy injured his left ankle on a sack early in the third quarter. He stayed in the game and finished 17-of-28 passing for 241 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. He said X-rays afterward were negative, but he will have more tests today in Cleveland.
Footnotes.
Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Ellis Hobbs left the field on a stretcher with a neck injury after taking a hit to the helmet on the second-half kickoff return against the New York Giants. Hobbs had full movement in his extremities and was being examined in the locker room.
• The Vikings lost starting right guard Anthony Herrera for the season to a knee injury.
• Arizona linebacker Will Davis was carted off the field with an ankle injury.
• Washington running back Clinton Portis reinjured his groin.
The Associated Press
