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Titans QB Jake Locker misses chance to play in Seattle

Before his injury, Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker had completed 62 percent of his passes for six TDs and no interceptions. (Associated Press)
Before his injury, Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker had completed 62 percent of his passes for six TDs and no interceptions. (Associated Press)
Bob Condotta Seattle Times

RENTON, Wash. – The famous RV emblazoned “Ferndawgs” is no longer part of the family, having been sold to Husky fans after Jake Locker headed to the NFL.

When the NFL schedule was released in April and showed the Tennessee Titans playing the Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on Oct. 13, the same crew of Locker family and friends that wore out I-5 from Ferndale to Montlake planned to revive the caravan.

“A lot of people up here had marked this one on their calendars as soon as it came out,” said Scott Locker, the father of Jake and spiritual leader of the Ferndawgs. “To have your hometown team and your kid’s team playing was kind of a special deal and there are a lot of us that are pretty disappointed that he’s not going to be out there.”

What would have been a much-anticipated return to Seattle for Jake Locker won’t happen. Locker is sidelined, maybe until November, with a hip injury suffered in a Sept. 29 win over the Jets.

Given the nature of the NFL schedule, Locker might not have a chance to play in Seattle for some time. If the league keeps its current schedule rotation, Seattle wouldn’t be slated to host Tennessee again until 2021.

“It’s tough,” said Locker, now in his third year with the Titans, in a phone interview with Seattle reporters Wednesday. “I was really looking forward to having the opportunity to play there and be able to play in front of family and friends.”

He said he hopes to make the trip anyway, and if possible, attend Washington’s game with Oregon on Saturday.

But his priority, he said, is the Titans, a team he had finally begun to make his own before his injury against the Jets.

Many observers viewed this as something of a make-or-break year for Locker with the Titans, who drafted him as the No. 8 overall pick in 2011. After playing in a reserve role behind Matt Hasselbeck as a rookie in 2011, he won the starting job a year ago.

But injuries got in the way then, too, a shoulder ailment costing him five games. The Titans went 4-7 in his 11 starts, with Locker compiling a passer rating of 74.0.

While some might have wondered if Locker was really the team’s quarterback of the future, the Titans made it clear they thought he was, letting Hasselbeck go and having Locker work through the offseason as the starter.

Through four games, Locker had rewarded their faith, completing 62 percent of his passes and throwing six touchdown passes, with no interceptions.