Enemy Intel: Marcus Mariota done for the season

New England Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones (95) fights off a block by Tennessee Titans tackle Taylor Lewan (77) to strip the ball from Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sun…

Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota will be out of action on a week-to-week basis, according to several reports. Mariota missed two games with a left MCL sprain earlier this year and the next two weeks in a lost season are insignificant when taken against the years that the Titans hope Mariota will be their starter. He completed 62 percent of his passes and threw 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Zach Mettenberger relieved Mariota and hit on 20 of 28 passes for 242 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. I think Chandler and Rob not having to be out there every single snap has also benefitted them and they’ve been very productive, too, so that’s been a really good situation for us. He left the game in the second quarter after running back Antonio Andrews failed to block linebacker Jamie Collins. That touchdown run on the screen, from what I saw there just wasn’t much there.

Afterward, Mularkey said the Titans discussed putting Mariota back in, but chose to err on the side of caution. Mike Kafka, signed to the practice squad last week, is the only other quarterback on the roster. He was 3-6 for 33 yards before leaving the game due to his knee injury.

Mariota said after Sunday’s game he hoped to play again this season. There were many players who stepped up and performed well for the Patriots in this one, but the play of running back James White once again stood out above most. “He got his opportunity this year when Dion went out, and he’s done a great job”. He was here a year ago and learned a lot. “The big fella got in there and he had to double-catch it for a touchdown, but we got the seven points and I was proud of the big fella”. Mariota said he doesn’t expect to miss the rest of the season.

“Certainly if there’s any issues, if we have any concerns as we did (Sunday), we would not play him”, Mularkey told reporters. Quarterback Tom Brady spoke about the second half performance on his weekly WEEI appearance.