THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Vince Young has started working his way back onto the practice field for the Tennessee Titans. Once his knee is healthy enough to return fully, coach Jeff Fisher says it will be as the backup to veteran Kerry Collins.

Young hasn't played since spraining his left knee midway through the fourth quarter of the season opener on Sept. 7. He skipped a scheduled MRI exam a day later, then prompted a police search when he panicked someone by taking off hours later without his cell phone.

Fisher announced Sept. 15 that Collins would be his starter until the Titans lose or struggle, and Tennessee now is off to one of the best starts in franchise history.

Young watched practices the past two weeks, standing off to the side. He didn't go with the team to Cincinnati on Sept. 14 and watched last week's 31-12 win over his hometown Houston Texans from the coaches' box but was listed as the emergency third quarterback for each game.

The No. 3 pick overall in 2006 started running Tuesday and was throwing after practice Wednesday.

"I can't say how close he's getting," Fisher said. "He ran yesterday, had good success on the field, and he threw. He's going to go through some sets and drops today and run a little bit after."

When Young is ready to return?

"He comes back and he's ready to go, we're going to move him from third to the second quarterback," Fisher said.