Marcus Mariota: Mularkey: Mariota not yet ruled out for year

Zach Mettenberger, who emerged as the Titans’ starter last season, will start at quarterback in Mariota’s absence this week.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota is believed to have sustained a minor knee sprain, reports Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.

That continues a pattern of minor knee injuries from college, as Mariota suffered an MCL sprain during his sophomore year at Oregon.

Should the Titans sit Mariota for the final two games of the season? Mularkey said the rookie wanted to return against the Patriots, but the Titans chose to be cautious and protect Mariota.

The Titans aren’t in the playoff conversation and they have no reason to risk Mariota’s long-term health.

“The more you get out there, the more confident you can play, so I’m just trying to play with confidence every week and do whatever I can to help the team”. His 91.5 passer rating is tops among rookies and 19th in the NFL.

On this morning’s weekly appearance on WEEI’s Dennis & Callahan Show, Brady commented on how the team will have to adjust to the return of players like wide receiver Julian Edelman, who has been practicing with the team as he recovers from a November 15 foot injury, and Danny Amendola, who has battled a knee injury late in the year. Running back Antonio Andrews missed his blocking assignment on the play.

Mariota was hurt on an 8-yard sack by Jamie Collins one play before Ryan Succop kicked a 49-yard field goal that made it 14-3.

On third down from the Patriots’ own 24-yard-line, White took a pass from Brady in the flat, and raced down field for an impressive 70-yard catch and run.

Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler also intercepted Mettenberger, picking one off in the end zone to stall a Titans’ drive in the fourth quarter. James White caught seven passes for 71 yards, including a 30-yard catch-and-run touchdown, and Keshawn Martin had a 75-yard kickoff return to set up another score.

“We’ve got to obviously do some things different, maybe a lot of things different than we did that previous game, ” Mularkey said. Mariota missed two games recovering from the injury.

Coach Gary Kubiak called it “an incredible gut check”, and said “nobody knew until after the game”.