Harper Will Start Over Hood Once Healthy

By Jonathan Hutton November 17, 2009

Despite his stellar play for the Titans over the recent three game winning streak, cornerback Rod Hood will hand the starting job back to veteran Nick Harper once he returns from injury.

Head coach Jeff Fisher said he would stick with a rule that he has followed since the Houston days -- a player would not lose his job due to injury.

''When Nick is ready to come back and play, Nick is going to play,'' Fisher said. ''As a rule of thumb I don't think it's fair for someone to lose their job due to injury. Rod knows that.''

''Nick is a very good player, a solid player who has made a lot of plays for us.''

Hood started 14 games for the Arizona Cardinals in 2008 and played in the Super Bowl before the club released him two days after the NFL Draft. He spent this past preseason with Chicago and Cleveland, however both organizations released him before the start of the regular season.

Now with Tennessee, Hood has three interceptions over the last three games, including one returned for a touchdown last Sunday against Buffalo.

Harper, a free agent following the season, broke his forearm against Indianapolis last month and has since spent time in the training room healing. He is still a week or two away from returning to the lineup.

In the meantime, Hood will remain the team's starter at right cornerback when the Titans face the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football in Week 11.