Ducks In The NFL: Titans Marcus Mariota Misses Another Day Of Practice, Out Sunday vs Atlanta
Former Oregon Ducks Quarterback Marcus Mariota has missed practice this week, but has also been rehabbing an MCL injury he suffered last weekend in the home loss to the Miami Dolphins. His backup, Zach Mettenberger has been taking all the reps with the starters this week in practice, yet Mariota still believe he will be on the field in Week 7.
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Typically when you don’t practice, that usually means that you don’t play. According to the Tennessean who spoke with Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt, that may not be the case this week keeping in mind that Tennessee has already seen Atlanta in 2015, in the preseason, ““I would say probably, if this was two months ago, pretty difficult. But after having gone through a number of games, looking at other defenses, you get a feel for what you’re looking at, the issues. I mean, nothing replaces the practice time, but it’s something that conceivably, he could do. With this defense, just the way they do things, we played them in the preseason, so you have a little bit better understanding.”
Mariota had a phenomenal start to his career in the National Football League passing for a record tying four touchdowns in his first week of action against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The record he tied was with Fran Tarkenton. Following the performance he was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month. Since then he has had some good moments, as well as some not so good moments including throwing interceptions at inopportune times with the game possibly on the line against Buffalo and in a comeback attempt against Cleveland. He has found himself on the ground quite a bit too.
With an Offensive Line that has given him minimal protection at times, Mariota has been sacked more times that you can count on hands and feet. He was taken down seven times against Cleveland and five times last weekend as the team hosted Miami. Mariota also has five fumbles on the season along with throwing five interceptions. Despite a pretty big learning curve there have also been positives. He has thrown for nine touchdown passes on the year and is closing in on 1400 yards through the air in 2015.
"“Nothing replaces the practice time, but it’s something that conceivably, he could do.”Tennessee Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt on if Marcus Mariota could play this weekend"
If he takes the field for the Tennessee Titans on Sunday it would not surprise me. It is a chance to beat one of the top teams in the NFL this season and would work toward turning the season around for the Titans. It seems that growing pains are not just centered around Quarterback Marcus Mariota, but if he can step up and lead as he has on several occasions this season, it may be enough to give Atlanta their second loss of the season, but it appears Mariota’s return will have to wait. A decision was made early in the day on Friday and it was announced that Marita would not play this weekend.
RT @AdamSchefter: Titans HC Ken Whisenhunt said Marcus Mariota will not play Sunday vs Atlanta. Zach Mettenberger gets the start.
— JustinPhillips (@JustinPhillips) October 23, 2015
Tennessee hosts Atlanta on Sunday for their fourth consecutive home game of the season. Kickoff is set for 10am Pacific Time on FOX.