NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Titans quarterback Zach Mettenberger will start Sunday's game against the Houston Texans.
On Friday, Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt ruled out Marcus Mariota, who returned to practice this week but still isn't ready to play because of his injured knee.
"He made a lot of progress this week and he has done a nice job, and I think he is close,'' Whisenhunt said of Mariota. "But we are not going to play him this week. I think that is the best decision for him and that is what we are going to go with."
Mariota did some light work on the practice field on Friday after practicing on a limited basis on Wednesday and Thursday.
Whisenhunt said Mariota missed too many reps to play.
Mariota also missed last Sunday's game against the Falcons with the knee injury. Mariota suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee against the Dolphins on October 18.
"I think physically he is right on the line of being able to go, but it is a tough enough position to play, without getting the bulk of the reps, that was part of it,'' Whisenhunt said of Mariota.
Mariota was injured early in the second quarter of the team's 38-10 loss to the Dolphins on October 18 when Miami defensive end Olivier Vernon dove and hit Mariota on the back of his left leg after he released the football.
Mettenberger completed 22-of-35 passes for 187 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions, in Sunday's 10-7 loss to the Falcons.
