Young's toughness questioned

While waiting for test results on Vince Young's sprained left knee Monday, the Titans found themselves defending their quarterback from critics worried about his mental state.

Those detractors claimed Young quit on his team in the season opener.

Young was intercepted midway through the fourth quarter of the 17-10 win over Jacksonville and walked to the sideline to a heavy chorus of boos from the hometown fans. He threw his helmet and sat on a bench with a towel over his head. His defense forced Jacksonville into a three-and-out, and the offense went on the field - with Young still on the sideline.

Backup Kerry Collins started taking a couple practice snaps, and coach Jeff Fisher pulled off his headset to talk with Young. The quarterback then put on his helmet and took the field. Four plays later, he rolled out on a bootleg and Jaguars linebacker Daryl Smith collided with Young's left knee.

Once Fisher announced that the Titans did not have the MRI results on Young's knee, the questions started about Young's actions. As he did Sunday, Fisher said the discussion only involved Young's tight hamstring and whether he could play.

Asked about how upset he looked, Fisher cautioned against reading too much into his taking off the headset.

"I had an offensive group on the field and the referee is getting ready to wind the play clock, and I had a quarterback on the sideline. If I appeared upset, it's because I wanted to get my quarterback on the field so we could go. So that's the long of it. I think we're making an awful lot over the fact that there was some communication on the sideline," Fisher said Monday.

If Young can't play Sunday at Cincinnati, Collins is the only other quarterback on the roster.

Burleson out for year: Seahawks wide receiver Nate Burleson is out for the season because of a knee injury.

Burleson tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while trying to cut outside on a pass pattern on a rain-slicked field in Buffalo on Sunday during Seattle's 34-10 loss in its season opener.

Bucs' Garcia questionable: Tampa Bay quarterback Jeff Garcia sprained an ankle during the Buccaneers' season-opening loss at New Orleans and is questionable for this week's home game against Atlanta.

Two other players, linebacker Derrick Brooks (right hamstring strain) and backup receiver Maurice Stovall (neck strain) also are questionable for Sunday against the Falcons, who opened with a win over Detroit.

Brooks, who was injured in the third quarter Sunday, has made 192 consecutive starts, the NFL's longest streak among active defensive players.

Croyle out: Kansas City QB Brodie Croyle has a separated shoulder and Damon Huard will start at quarterback this week against Oakland.

"He's not done for the year," Chiefs coach Herman Edwards said Monday. "It's week to week."

Jags lose 2 linemen: Already thin along the offensive line following last week's shooting of backup tackle Richard Collier, Jacksonville lost both starting guards (Vince Manuwai and Maurice Williams) in its sack-filled, season-opening loss at Tennessee on Sunday. They probably will be out for the season.