Moments after the conclusion of Saturday’s 34-31 overtime victory over Pittsburgh, Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair found himself again answering questions about his health.
McNair had missed six weeks of practice before the playoff week with lingering toe, rib and back injuries.
Then he missed two plays in Saturday’s fourth quarter after injuring the thumb on his throwing hand.
“I bruised the joints in my thumb,” said McNair, who will likely be listed as questionable for the AFC championship game at Oakland. “I got the top of my knuckle and thumb taken off when I hit it against a helmet. It was weak for a point. That’s why I didn’t go back in immediately. I just couldn’t grip the ball. I was frustrated and mad.”
McNair was sore Sunday, and tests and X-rays on his right thumb revealed no further damage. Doctors had cut a piece of skin off.
On Saturday, coach Jeff Fisher said he was concerned about the joint in the thumb.
On the Titans’ final possession in regulation, McNair was 5-of-7 for 46 yards, including a spike to stop the clock.
“I couldn’t squeeze the ball as hard as I normally would,” McNair said. “I managed to do what I had to do to make some good throws.
“The scary part was I didn’t just want to go back and throw with a lot of velocity, because it would slip out of my hands. I had to make some adjustments, maybe not squeeze it as hard as I normally would.”
After an incomplete pass on his first pass in overtime, McNair found Justin McCareins near the left sideline for a 31-yard gain. McNair again found McCareins on the next play for a 22-yard gain.
“He was the same Steve,” McCareins said. “You didn’t think anything was hurting on him.
“We believe in him all the time. That’s just Steve for you.”
During the final five weeks of the season, when McNair played but did not practice, he said repeatedly his concentration was better while injured.
“It’s a part of the game,” McNair said.
“I’m so used to it that I really find myself doing a lot better when I’m injured, so sometimes I look forward to it.”
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McNair threw for 338 yards and two touchdowns in the Titans’ victory.