Collins ready to lead Titans

Kerry Collins will step in for an injured Vince Young against Cincinnati. Frederick Breedon IV for The City Paper

At 35, Kerry Collins has a little gray in his beard stubble, but he has plenty of life left in his right arm, and that is something that could provide a spark for the Tennessee Titans’ passing offense Sunday in Cincinnati.

Collins, in his 14th NFL season, steps in Sunday for injured Vince Young and could be playing for the foreseeable future, especially if he and the offense enjoy success.

Collins is well aware of the situation he inherits with a Tennessee offense. With Young plagued by erratic play and inconsistency on the field and a bizarre situation off it, Collins now takes the reins of the offense back. He started one game last year in Houston, and before that had been rushed into the lineup for the first three games of the 2006 season.

When he started those three games with little time in the offense under his belt, Titans fans were clamoring for his removal. This time around, he could be viewed as a potential savior for a passing game that has yet to get on track.

“I know this: The backup is always the most popular guy in town, and that’s just part of it,” Collins said. “The bottom line is I’m looking forward to playing this weekend. I don’t get to do it a lot anymore. I’m looking forward to being a part of something I think can be pretty good.”

Offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger is pretty excited about the possibilities as well.

“Kerry’s really a perfect fit for any offense in this league,” Heimerdinger said. “We’re really lucky to have a guy with that experience as our backup. A lot of people don’t have a backup that’s been around, done the things [he has] and been to a Super Bowl. He’s got a lot of experience. There’s not much he hasn’t seen. He knows where the ball is going to go.”

Amazingly, one thing he hasn’t seen in 14 years of work is the Cincinnati Bengals, whom he will start against Sunday.

Collins gave a glimpse of what perhaps could be when he replaced an injured Young late in the fourth quarter when he came off the bench and completed both his pass attempts for 65 yards total. He hit a 44-yarder to Bo Scaife on third-and-15, and a 21-yarder to Justin Gage that set up a LenDale White TD run.

“He’s got a good strong arm. The thing about Kerry is he puts it in places where receivers have a chance to catch it and make a play, just like he did the other day when he Justin [Gage] in that crosser [crossing route],” Heimerdinger said. “Justin breaks a tackle and takes it down to the 1-yard line. He puts it in the area where the receivers have a chance to make a play. Whenever underneath, deep or wherever he throws it, he has a pretty good touch and gets it in the right places.”

Collins is hopeful that a full week of reps with the first unit will help him get a good feel for the receivers and timing.

“I’m going to have the all the reps in practice that I normally don’t get. The study time and everything is going to be the same, but it’s just the reps in practice that I think I’ll benefit from,” Collins said.

Heimerdinger said timing should improve for Collins as well with a full workload this week.

“He gets a pretty good complement of reps anyway, but the main thing is his timing should be better, I would think,” Heimerdinger said. “He doesn’t get the full thing when Vince is healthy. He’s at least throwing every time and telling them where he wants them on routes. So we’ll see.”

Collins’ veteran presence is something the receivers say is a nice luxury to have in a backup quarterback.

“You don’t miss a beat, because you’ve got a professional in there, who has not only been paying attention, but has been in pressure situations before, has come off the bench before and led his team,” receiver Justin McCareins said. “He also has been paying attention all year and knows what to do. He knows how to call the plays and can direct us just as good as the starter can. We’re very fortunate to have somebody like Kerry.”

HAYNESWORTH UPDATE: Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth said the baseline test he took Wednesday regarding the concussion he had Sunday against Jacksonville looked close to normal and that he is likely to play Sunday in Cincinnati.

“They said I wasn’t too far off, so it wasn’t that bad. If it was completely different from my first test that I had to take when I was normal, then that would have been bad. Everything was all right. They said I wasn’t too far out,” said Haynesworth, who had the test on Wednesday.

Haynesworth said he didn’t remember much from Sunday’s game other than his two sacks. He recorded his first sack before the concussion, and got his second one on the final play of the game.

“If I keep improving like I am, I think I’ll be perfect on Sunday,” Haynesworth said.

Haynesworth said Sunday he had to ask someone what the final score was.

Asked Thursday what last Sunday’s score was, he replied, “17-10, I watched the film.”

Titans coach Jeff Fisher said the club is being cautious with concussion victims.

“We always are very cautious, and when we feel someone is ready, we take an extra couple of days,” Fisher said.

Fisher also said he expects that Haynesworth will play against the Bengals.

“We’ve got enough healthy defensive linemen, but I expect him to play,” Fisher said.

OTHER INJURIES: Defensive end Jacob Ford (sternum) and running back Quinton Ganther (ankle) were both out of practice again on Thursday.

Linebacker David Thornton (shoulder) was limited as he was held out of the padded portion of practice.

TURN THE PAGE: Chris Hope’s season ended and his career was threatened when he suffered a neck injury that required surgery last year after making a tackle at Paul Brown Stadium.

Now in a return engagement to face the Bengals there Sunday, the Titans’ strong safety says he has no concerns about what happened that November day.

“I don’t pay any attention to it. It’s over,” Hope said. “I can’t do anything about it. I’m still here. I’m back in a uniform so I’m not focused on that.”

Titans at Bengals

Sunday, noon, CDT

Paul Brown Stadium

TV — WTVF Channel 5