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Matt Hasselbeck to start for Titans against Vikings

Matt Hasselbeck will replace Jake Locker as the starting quarterback when the Titans take on the Vikings, due to a dislocated shoulder from Ponder.

Bob Levey - Getty Images

The Minnesota Vikings will face a tough test when Chris Johnson and the Tennessee Titans come to the Metrdome on Sunday. Although the Vikings are rightly focused on Johnson, they did not know who would be under center, with second-year quarterback Jake Locker nursing a left shoulder injury. On Wednesday, it was announced by coach Mike Munchak that veteran signal caller Matt Hasselbeck will be the starting quarterback in Locker's absence, according to the Star Tribune.

Locker dislocated his non-throwing shoulder for the second time in four games when he was sacked by the Houston Texans on Sunday. That game was a 38-14 loss for the Titans, who were coming off a huge overtime victory over the Detroit Lions the previous week. Locker's shoulder hasn't improved and remains as sore as it was when the dislocation happened, so that's why Hasselbeck is getting the start.

Johnson will have even more pressure on him to perform with Hasselbeck under center. It's not as though the veteran quarterback hasn't been good when he's played for Tennessee, he's just coming off the bench and at his age, that could mean he's slow to start. And let's not forget that he's pretty fragile to begin with. Johnson hasn't had the best start to his season but has put together a couple solid performances in recent outings, either way.

Photographs by Micah Taylor, clairity, and Fibonacci Blue used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.