Titans tight end Walker needs 12 stitches after collision

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker says he'll be just fine after a collision with safety Da'Norris Searcy left him needing 12 stitches to close a cut in his left thumb.

Walker also was preparing to be checked Thursday by a hand specialist to be sure.

The tight end sliced his thumb in practice Thursday afternoon going over the middle for a ball from Marcus Mariota when Searcy hit him, breaking up the pass. Walker immediately grabbed at his left hand, but the veteran stayed on the field for a play before going to the locker room with a trainer. He not only got 12 stitches but a nice bandage wrapped around the cut.

Walker said nothing was broken.

''I'm not concerned about it,'' Walker said. ''It's just so I can take a shower. Got a cut on my hand, and the trainer just wanted to be smart with the cut. Just went inside and made sure everything's OK with it.''

Walker led the Titans both with 63 receptions and 890 yards receiving last season. Coach Ken Whisenhunt said the veteran going into his 10th season is a tough man.

''It's never a great thing, but he's a guy who's done a great job for us,'' Whisenhunt said. ''He'll be ready.''

Right tackle Byron Bell also didn't finish after going down on the final play of a team drill midway through practice. Whisenhunt said Bell hurt his jaw after being hit from the side. Rookie Jeremiah Poutaski replaced Bell for the rest of practice.

Notes: Mariota finished Thursday completing 11 of his 17 passes, and the Heisman Trophy winner now has six practices at training camp without having a pass intercepted. Cornerback Perrish Cox came closest before breaking up a pass to wide receiver Harry Douglas on the sideline. Whisenhunt said the Titans haven't talked about Mariota's camp streak, though he didn't know if it's a topic among the players. ''It seems to kind of have its own life going,'' Whisenhunt said.

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