by Jim Wyatt, The Tennessean , Chattanooga Times Free Press

Kerry Collins will start again Sunday against the Patriots, and Vince Young will back him up.

"We have to improve as a team, and that is what we are working on," Fisher said. "Kerry is not the reason. Our Football team is the reason we're at where we're at, not the quarterback position."

A day after the Titans managed only three field goals in a 31-9 loss to the Colts, Fisher took more Collins-Young questions than at any point this season.

"I didn't say I was going to (change). I said there's a possibility, OK? I didn't say I was going to, and I didn't say when I was going to," Fisher said. "Kerry is our starter and Vince is our backup. I'd be happy to field more questions about it, but I've made my point."

Collins was 19-of-32 passing for 164 yards and an interception against the Colts. He's thrown as many pickoffs (seven) as he did all of last season and posted passer ratings of 59.9, 66.7 and 41.5 the past three games.

Fisher blamed the offense's struggles against the Colts on a running game that couldn't get anything going, but falling way behind early didn't help.

A week after trailing the Jaguars 27-3 at halftime, the Titans trailed the Colts 21-9 at the break, forcing the offense into a one-dimensional mode.

The big deficit Sunday night forced the Titans to look to Young for the first time this season.

When offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger pointed at Young in the fourth quarter and told him to warm up, Young glanced at the scoreboard before taking his coat off and throwing a few short tosses.

Young's body language suggested he was unhappy, but Fisher said the fourth-year pro "enjoyed the opportunity to get in the game." Fisher said he hadn't discussed Young's reaction with Heimerdinger.

"The only thing I can comment on is when I went up to Vince and said, 'Do you want to have some fun?' he said, 'You know me. Yes, I do,'" Fisher said. "And he seemed excited about it. ... His response to going in the game to me is what's important, and I saw no reluctance.

"The only thing I saw was enthusiasm, and that's what's important."

Harper out 4-6 weeks

Titans cornerback Nick Harper was scheduled to undergo surgery Monday to repair the right forearm that was broken in Sunday's game. The ninth-year pro is expected to miss four to six weeks.

Tight end Craig Stevens, who suffered a concussion while making a tackle on the opening kickoff, checked out of a local hospital Monday. He still had a mild headache as of this morning but felt "significantly better," Fisher said.

The secondary had lost nickelback Vincent Fuller to a broken forearm last month against the Jets. Cornerback Cortland Finnegan missed the past two games because of a hamstring injury.

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