NFL | Vince Young's mom: Tennessee QB doesn't want to play

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — If Vince Young isn't sure he wants to play football anymore, he didn't show it Wednesday.

He reported to work, watched part of practice with a wrap around his sprained left knee and avoided reporters wanting to talk about his mother's comments indicating he doesn't want to play because of the negativity he's faced since being booed heavily during a 17-10 win over Jacksonville.

His coach and teammates are sticking with their quarterback, and the official story that whatever happened that prompted coach Jeff Fisher to alert police to help locate Young and check on his emotional well-being was just a misunderstanding. And that it was blown out of proportion by the media.

And no, Young doesn't have to prove his commitment to either Fisher or his teammates.

"He led us to the playoffs last year. We just want him to get healthy and back on the field," Fisher said.

The quarterback didn't talk to reporters, but Fisher did promise Young will speak "at some point."

Veteran quarterback Kerry Collins will start for Tennessee this week, and Chris Simms was signed as insurance.

Felicia Young said in Wednesday's editions of The Tennessean that her son is tired of all the negativity he's faced.

"What would you think, if you were tired of being ridiculed and persecuted and talked about and not being treated very well, what would you do? What kind of decision would you make?" Felicia Young said. "He may not want to deal with it [all], but you have to get to that point before you make that decision first.

"But we're not talking about football right now. We're talking about what would make him happy, and that is the most important thing."

Felicia Young said her son needs some space.

"It is hard, all he is going through right now. He's hurting inside and out," she told The Tennessean.

Notes

• Less than 24 hours after Indianapolis Colts starting defensive tackle Ed Johnson was arrested on a drug-possession charge during a traffic stop, the team said it would waive him. "In this particular case, Ed was well aware that his past history required him to be in complete compliance with club rules," Colts president Bill Polian said.

• The San Francisco 49ers put quarterback Alex Smith on injured reserve with a broken bone in his right shoulder. The top pick in the 2005 draft probably will require more surgery on the joint that limited him to seven games last season. After paying Smith more than $31 million during his four years with the 49ers, the club is likely to release him.

• Marques Colston, the New Orleans Saints' top receiver during the past two seasons, had surgery on his left thumb and will miss four to six weeks.

• The St. Louis Rams dipped into the past to fill a void at wide receiver, signing former No. 1 pick Eddie Kennison, 35.

• The Detroit Lions signed wide receiver Brandon Middleton and put tight end Dan Campbell on injured reserve.

• Quarterback Tom Brady visited his New England Patriots teammates, three days after suffering a season-ending knee injury. Receiver Randy Moss said the visit was "uplifting."

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jeff Garcia is out of Sunday's home opener against Atlanta because of a sprained ankle. He will be replaced by backup Brian Griese.

• The New York Jets signed Jay Feely to replace kicker Mike Nugent, who injured his thigh in the season-opening game.

• Cleveland Browns starting safety Sean Jones will have arthroscopic knee surgery and likely be sidelined for at least one month.

• The New York Jets have signed tight end Chris Baker to a contract extension.

• Prosecutors in Centennial, Colo., filed charges against former Denver Broncos player Billy Jenkins for vehicular homicide and driving under the influence after a motor-scooter driver was killed in a hit-and-run collision.