Rather than trade off days, Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Locker are splitting snaps down the middle in Titans training camp.

They're rotating in and out with the first-team offense. "We think that's the best way to do it, for them to compete that way, to avoid a lot of things," Munchak said. "Avoid looking at the script beforehand, knowing what plays you are going to get, knowing who you are working with." We believe the Titans' QB battle is truly an open competition. Locker has a lot more fantasy upside.

Matt Hasselbeck is listed as the starting quarterback on the Titans' first unofficial depth chart of the season.

No surprise here at all. Hasselbeck is the veteran and incumbent, while Jake Locker is a second-year pro challenging for the gig. Still, we're not expecting Hasselbeck to hold off Locker for the entire year. The gap in arm strength, mobility and playmaking ability is wide.

ESPN's Paul Kuharsky says not to believe that "(Matt) Hasselbeck can't lose the job."

Even though the Titans have declared this a true open competition, the general sense among the local media is that it's Hasselbeck's gig. But Kuharsky, a former Titans beat writer, has repeatedly said that Locker will have a real chance to beat the veteran out. Either way, it's going to be hard for coach Mike Munchak to keep Locker's mobility and cannon arm off the field all season. The second-year man's performance in August will be worth monitoring closely.

Jim Wyatt of the Nashville Tennessean stated on NFL Live Monday that he expects Matt Hasselbeck to open the 2012 season as the Titans' starting quarterback.

"Mike Munchak has said that the early-season schedule will weigh into his decision when he eventually makes one in training camp," Wyatt said. "I think the veteran Matt Hasselbeck gives them the best chance to win. Obviously, they're very high on Jake Locker. J ake Locker played well when he came into games for Hasselbeck last year. He's had a good offseason. But Hasselbeck had a good 2011 season as well. ... I think Matt Hasselbeck will give them the best chance to win early. I think he has a shorter leash -- certainly -- in 2012. (But) I think it's his job to lose at this point."

Tennessean columnist David Climer "suspects" Matt Hasselbeck is "solidly ahead" of Jake Locker right now.

Climer is just connecting the dots here, not reporting. He cites Hasselbeck's experience and the Titans' brutal early-season schedule as reasons the veteran will start in Week 1. The organization -- and the two quarterbacks -- are both on the record saying it's an open competition.

Coach Mike Munchak acknowledged that the Titans' difficult early-season schedule could factor into the team's quarterback decision.

Tennessee opens versus New England, at San Diego, versus Detroit, and at Houston. "You always look at what's coming up," Munchak said. "... Those are not really the main things, but you have to factor everything in." While the Titans vow to split reps 50:50 between Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Locker, Munchak's comments suggest the camp battle will tilt toward the experienced player.

ESPN's Adam Schefter predicts that Matt Hasselbeck will open the season as the Titans' starter and keep the job "as long as he's healthy and productive."

Schefter believes Hasselbeck could even wind up starting for "this whole season," and Jake Locker will only play if Hasselbeck gets hurt or the Titans start losing. Schefter has joined top beat writer Jim Wyatt as well as ESPN AFC South blogger Paul Kuharsky in predicting that Hasselbeck will beat out Locker.

ESPN's Paul Kuharsky expects Matt Hasselbeck to open the season as the Titans' starting quarterback.

Kuharsky is an ex-Titans beat writer, and his former colleague at the Nashville Tennessean, Jim Wyatt, believes Hasselbeck will beat out Jake Locker, too. Kuharsky notes that the Titans' coaches "love" Hasselbeck, and Locker would either need a "tremendous" camp or a Hasselbeck injury to wrest the position. Hasselbeck posted a 5:8 TD-to-INT ratio and 6.68 YPA in the Titans' final eight games last year. The 37-year-old (in September) could have a limiting early-season effect on an otherwise potentially explosive Tennessee offense.

The Nashville Tennesseean's Jim Wyatt expects Matt Hasselbeck to beat out Jake Locker for the Titans' quarterback job.

GM Ruston Webster reiterated Thursday that the Titans will hold an "open competition" at quarterback this summer.

The Titans appear firmly committed to giving 2011 first-round pick Jake Locker a chance to overtake Matt Hasselbeck. Locker was dynamic in short bursts down the stretch last season, while Hasselbeck struggled mightily after getting off to a hot start. Following the Titans' Week 6 bye, Hasselbeck posted a 75.2 QB rating and 9:10 TD:INT ratio. Even if he's able to hold Locker in camp, he'll be on a short leash during the season.

The Nashville Tennessean's Jim Wyatt expects Matt Hasselbeck to "hold off" Jake Locker in training camp this summer.

Wyatt is one of the most dependable beat writers in the country, but we have to part ways with him on this issue. Hasselbeck actually hampered the team's playoff chances down the stretch, outplayed by Locker in relief in a couple of games. Hasselbeck carries the respect of the locker room and the coaching staff, but he can't match Locker's play-making ability. This battle will be decided on the field in August.

After opening the job to competition, coach Mike Munchak said Monday that he expects the Titans' 2012 starting quarterback to become "obvious" on the practice field in training camp.

"He played better than we thought he'd come in and do," conceded Munchak of rookie Jake Locker. "(Locker and Matt Hasselbeck) competed this year, I felt, and when we get back and start work ... I think they would assume they are going to come out and compete against one another. And as always, as we should say, the best guy should play." Hasselbeck is due a $5.5 million base salary in 2012. If it becomes "obvious" Locker is better, the Titans may be forced to ask Hasselbeck to take a pay cut next summer.

Coach Mike Munchak confirmed that Matt Hasselbeck (calf) is "ready to go" for Saturday's game against the Jaguars.

Hasselbeck has put in a full week of practice after missing time last week. We suspect his leash will be much shorter this time around, so there's a chance he could be pulled for Jake Locker by halftime if the Titans aren't moving the ball.

Matt Hasselbeck (calf) was a full participant in Titans practice for the second straight day Wednesday.

Hasselbeck will be the Titans' starting quarterback against the Jaguars, but is going to have to play much better than he did in Week 15 if he doesn't want to be yanked early for backup Jake Locker. Even against Jacksonville's injury-batter secondary, Hasselbeck is a low-end QB2 for the fantasy finals.

Matt Hasselbeck (calf) was a full participant in Titans practice Tuesday.

It appears Hasselbeck will hold onto the Titans' starting job for another week after coach Mike Munchak said on Monday Hasselbeck will be under center against Jaguars if healthy. He'll be on a much shorter leash than he was in Sunday's disastrous loss to the Colts, however. It would be far from surprising if Jake Locker comes on in relief for the third straight game.

Titans coach Mike Munchak says he'll stick with Matt Hasselbeck (calf) as his starting quarterback in Week 16 as long as he's healthy.

Munchak was noncommittal about his Week 16 starter following Sunday's crushing loss, but has convinced himself Hasselbeck still gives the Titans their best chance to win despite much evidence to the contrary. Munchak did allow he that he won't hesitate to sub-in Jake Locker for the second straight week if Hasselbeck struggles like he did on Sunday. The entire Titans offense will be worth an upgrade in fantasy leagues if Munchak changes his mind between now and Saturday.

Jim Wyatt of the Nashville Tennessean expects the Titans to stick with Matt Hasselbeck for Week 16, assuming his calf isn't an issue.

Coach Mike Munchak was noncommittal after Sunday's game, so don't take this to the bank just yet. Explosive rookie Jake Locker sports a 99.4 passer rating, 8.2 YPA, and 4:0 TD-to-INT ratio on 66 attempts in three relief appearances. If Hasselbeck starts and struggles against the Jags, Munchak will have a much quicker hook this time around.

Titans coach Mike Munchak did not commit to Matt Hasselbeck as his Week 16 starter following Sunday's loss.

"We haven't thought about next week yet," Munchak said. "We have a short week coming up. We're just going to have to see where we're at." An ineffective Hasselbeck was badly outplayed by rookie Jake Locker after being benched in the fourth quarter, and admitted he was limited by his calf injury. With Locker appearing to give the Titans a better chance to win each of the past two weeks, he should be considered the early favorite to be under center against Jacksonville.

Matt Hasselbeck (calf) is expected to be active in Sunday's game against the Colts.

Hasselbeck missed practice Wednesday and Thursday and was limited on Friday, but will continue to start over rookie Jake Locker. Expect a run-heavy approach from the Titans against the Colts' 30th-ranked run defense.

Matt Hasselbeck (calf, questionable) practiced again on Friday and is expected to start Sunday's game at Indianapolis.

Both the Nashville Tennessean and Titan Insider are reporting that Hasselbeck will start and Jake Locker will have to continue to wait, even if the rookie might already be the Titans' best option. Expect a run-heavy mindset from the Titans, featuring Chris Johnson against the Colts' 30th-ranked rush defense. The Tennessee passing game has been considerably less explosive when Hasselbeck has been under center, as compared to Locker.