NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A week into training camp, quarterback Marcus Mariota is feeling good about himself.
Even if it takes him a little longer to get warmed up for practices.
"It is feeling better with every day," Mariota said on Thursday. "We haven't had a setback or anything like that, so a lot of credit goes to the training staff here in helping me get warmed up and helping me once practice is done, get prepared for the next one."
Mariota was limited during the team's offseason work as he worked his way back from the fractured fibula he suffered against the Jaguars last December.
But he's looked better each day during the first week of training camp, especially from a mobility standpoint.
Mariota has taken off and shown his speed – and the ability to make sharp cuts -- on numerous plays, including some sprints to the outside when he's faced pressure. He's been mostly accurate throwing the football, although cornerback Adoree Jackson stepped in and picked off one of his passes on Thursday.
"I've seen nothing but good things from Marcus," tight end Delanie Walker said. "You see him out here throwing, running around. He looks like his old self. He looks good to me."
Offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie agreed, while saying the Titans are gearing practices to allow Mariota time to work himself back to 100 percent.
"Marcus is looking good, and he is moving around real well," Robiskie said. "As far as what we are putting in for him, what we are going to call and directions of things from that nature, the easy thing for me is I can leave all of that with (quarterbacks coach) Jason Michael. Jason might say, 'Today, Marcus has a little soreness in his left leg' or 'His hip is hurting him a little bit.' And whatever J-Mike says to do, that is what we are going to do.
"He is outstanding in monitoring Marcus and saying, "He feels this way or he feels that way.' And Marcus is going about it pretty good."
Mariota admits it takes him a little longer to warm up before practices, however.
"It gets stiff once practice kind of stops and we are done for the day," Mariota said. "But that's just how it is, and what is going to happen. If I have to spend an extra five to ten minutes getting my body prepared, I'll do that."
Mariota is also using training camp to develop chemistry with his receivers, from veteran Eric Decker to rookies Corey Davis and Taywan Taylor. Mariota described Taylor as "electric" and said the team needs to find ways to get him more involved. He already seems to have nice chemistry with Decker, signed in late June.
Davis left practice on Thursday with a hamstring injury. Titans coach Mike Mularkey said Davis was scheduled for an MRI to determine the severity, and how much time he might miss.
"I thought he's done a great job of stepping in, and knowing what to do and making great plays,'' Mariota said of Davis. "He's made bunch of plays on the football, attacking the ball at the high point. We need him to get back and get ready to go and I'm sure he will."
Titans players take the field for Day 6 of the team's 2017 training camp at Saint Thomas Sports Park. (Photos: Donn Jones Photography, Gary Glenn)
