Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Zach Mettenberger, who led the NFL in passing yards in the preseason, will make his first NFL start Sunday against the Houston Texans.

The Tennessean first reported the news Wednesday, and multiple media outlets confirmed it Wednesday night.

With quarterback Jake Locker sidelined the past two games due to a thumb injury, Charlie Whitehurst filled in during a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars and a loss to the Washington Redskins. Whitehurst also started during a loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 28 when Locker was out due to a wrist injury.

Locker threw in practice Wednesday, but Mettenberger saw action with the first-team offense.

Mettenberger made his lone official appearance in the Indianapolis game, completing two of five passes for 17 yards and an interception. The 23-year-old was a sixth-round pick this year out of LSU, where he missed the end of last season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

In the preseason with Tennessee, Mettenberger went 47-for-68 (69.1 percent) for 659 yards with two touchdown passes and two interceptions. He also lost three fumbles.

Whitehurst is 59-for-98 (60.2 percent) for 764 yards with five touchdown passes and two interceptions this season. He previously started a combined four games for the Seattle Seahawks in 2010 and 2011.

The Titans (2-5) went 1-3 in Locker’s starts this year. Locker completed 65 of 112 passes (58 percent) for 764 yards with four touchdown passes and four interceptions.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt has said Locker will be the Titans’ starter again once he is healthy.