When will Titans turn to Zach Mettenberger?

Seven games into the season, Jake Locker has done little to convince the Titans he's their quarterback of the future.

If anything, he's only provided more doubt. The fourth-year pro has been unable to stay healthy or play well on a consistent basis when he is healthy.

With nine games left, the Titans are running out of time to determine if they will re-sign Locker, who is in the final year of his contract.

But there's a problem with giving Locker one last chance, something Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt said he plans to do. Every game Locker plays is one less to find out about someone else who could very well be the starter in 2015.

So the Titans (2-5) are at a crossroads in what appears to be a dead-end season. After Sunday's game against the Texans comes the bye week. Then there are eight games that could go a long way in deciding how their quarterback position might look going into next season.

By all accounts, rookie Zach Mettenberger has exceeded expectations with his approach, work ethic and performance. But the Titans won't know exactly what they have in the sixth-round pick from LSU until they turn him loose in the regular season.

Aside from preseason games, in which Mettenberger shined, his only action was mop-up duty in a blowout loss to the Colts. And while veteran Charlie Whitehurst has done a commendable job in three starts, he isn't the long-term answer.

Locker, who missed the past two games because of an injured thumb, is supposed to throw on Tuesday. How he feels afterward should help determine his availability for Sunday's game.

Whisenhunt made it clear, however, he's not ready to turn the season over to Mettenberger.

"Nothing has changed from the quarterback perspective," the coach said Monday. "Jake wants to get back as quickly as he can."

As for the percolating Mettenberger topic, Whisenhunt told reporters: "That seems to be a question you guys are saying more than I am. I am focused on trying to improve each week, and trying to play better."

Locker, a first-round pick in 2011, has never disappointed his coaches and teammates with his dogged approach, toughness and competitive spirit. But injuries have made him undependable.

He has missed three starts this season and 17 of a potential 39 starts since becoming the No. 1 quarterback in 2012. This season he's 65-of-112 passing for 764 yards, with four touchdowns, four interceptions and a 75.9 rating. The Titans are 1-3 in his starts.

Whitehurst has also thrown for 764 yards, with five touchdowns, two interceptions, a 93.2 rating and a 1-2 record.

Locker has been pushing to play, Whisenhunt said, but coaches and medical staff haven't felt he was healthy enough. Locker "at best begrudgingly" accepted the decision, according to the coach.

"He has been professional about it. I know he has been disappointed," Whisenhunt said. "What I see from Jake is a guy that feels like he can help the football team and wants to get on the field. And that's a quality you wish you had in all 53 players."

So at what point would the Titans consider Mettenberger? Whisenhunt was reluctant to discuss the topic.

The Titans are quickly playing themselves out of playoff contention, however, and face a difficult schedule coming out of the bye week: road games at Baltimore, Philadelphia and Houston along with a home game against Pittsburgh.

"From my little time around Zach, I don't think there is much you can do to mess with his confidence," Whisenhunt said. "As far as putting him out there too early, or not putting him out there too early, there's all kinds of different schools of thought. I think he has to work hard and prepare the best he can because at some point he'll get his chance."

Mettenberger, who was 2-of-5 passing for 17 yards with an interception in the closing minutes of a 41-17 loss to the Colts on Sept. 28, continues to steer clear of the topic. On Monday he left the locker room before reporters could track him down.

Earlier this month he told The Tennessean: "Anybody worth their salt wants to play, so that is what I am doing, I am pushing the two guys ahead of me and trying to get better. It's about taking advantage of the opportunity I am given. That is what I am waiting on, an opportunity I guess. Eventually, whenever that is … you have to make the most of it."

Reach Jim Wyatt at 615-259-8015 and on Twitter @jwyattsports.