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Titans QB Jake Locker practices with injured wrist

By WTOP Staff

TERESA M. WALKER
AP Pro Football Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Jake Locker practiced Wednesday for the Tennessee Titans, and now the quarterback will see how his right wrist responds to a full session of throwing the ball.

Locker isn’t overly concerned, he expects to play Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.

“That’s the way I’m going about it,” Locker said.

The quarterback says he feels really good and was able to do everything Wednesday, which he calls encouraging. Locker lobbied coach Ken Whisenhunt to play in last week’s 41-17 loss at Indianapolis but watched from the sideline as backup Charlie Whitehurst played. Locker says it’s always tough staying on the sideline.

Whisenhunt still wants to see how Locker feels Thursday after a full practice. The Titans want to make sure all the soreness is out of Locker’s wrist, which he injured in a 33-7 loss at Cincinnati on Sept. 21, because the quarterback easily could put his hand down to the ground bracing himself risking further injury.

“He did a lot today, and if it responds the way we think it’s going to, then everything’s good,” Whisenhunt said.

Having Locker back is one thing. The quarterback playing better is another. Locker has struggled in his last two starts and had four interceptions in those games. The Titans also didn’t score a single point in the first half of either of those losses, a trend they finally ended with 10 points in Indianapolis with Whitehurst last week.

Asked what he needs Locker to do better, Whisenhunt said everybody has to play better.

“It’s hard to single out any one person, because there are a lot of things,” Whisenhunt said. “First of all, we’ve got to quit turning the ball over, we’ve got to make plays on the ball defensively, special teams we’ve got to do a better job. I could go on. There are a lot things that we need to improve.”

Locker started off the season strong throwing for 266 yards and two touchdowns in a win at Kansas City, a victory that looks more impressive with the Chiefs routing New England on Monday night. Locker said he has looked at what he didn’t do well through the first month of the season, and he thinks being more precise on details in each play can make a big difference.

“When you’re not winning and things aren’t going the way you’d like them to go, I’ve always believed the first place you have to look is yourself,” Locker said. “And it’s no different in this situation.”

The Titans (1-3) host the Browns (1-2) on Sunday having lost three straight. They’ve also been outscored 100-34 in this skid, and Whisenhunt has said he will simplify the offense a bit to help the Titans. Locker said that can help players not be as mindful and play faster.

“It’s something I think is an effort on coach’s part for us to really hone in and focus on the smaller details within each play and execute them really crisply all 11 guys,” Locker said.

Notes: CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson (concussion) did not practice, and Whisenhunt said there’s a possibility Coty Sensabaugh replaces him if the cornerback is not cleared in time before Sunday. … TE Taylor Thompson (knee) did not practice. TE Delanie Walker (shoulder) was limited. DT Jurrell Casey (foot) and DE Ropati Pitoitua (knee) practiced fully.

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Online:

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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