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NASHVILLE, Tenn. –** Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota was limited in practice on Wednesday, but coach Mike Mularkey considered his presence a step in the right direction.
Mariota is "day to day" with the hamstring injury he suffered against the Texans.
"We didn't ask him to do very much," Mularkey said of Mariota. "He did what we thought he could do, and that wasn't very much. But it was enough. We are going to be smart with him. It was positive for what he had to do."
Mularkey said again on Wednesday there's a chance Mariota's availability for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins won't be known until game day. He said he likely wouldn't be a back-up, however.
Mularkey said he's hopeful Mariota's workload will increase during the week.
"That's the plan," Mularkey said. "I can't predict it, but that's kind of the plan. Anybody that's injured you like to see them progress to get better. … He works at everything he has to work at, he is a top pro at doing that."
Mariota scored on two touchdown runs against the Texans – he turned on the jets on his 34-yard touchdown run, and he sprinted to the pylon – and made it – on a two-yard touchdown later in the game.
Unfortunately, Mariota suffered a hamstring injury on his second score, and as a result he didn't finish the game.
Back-up quarterback Matt Cassel is in line to start if Mariota can't go. On Tuesday, the Titans also signed veteran Brandon Weeden, and he practiced with the team as well.
"(Matt) did good," Mularkey said. "It was good (for him) to get all the reps. We had a good practice with him today."
Mariota, who is expected to talk to reporters later in the week, completed 6-of-10 passes for 96 yards in the first half against the Texans, with a pair of interceptions. He carried the ball four times for 39 yards in the contest. On the season, Mariota has completed 66-of-110 passes for 792 yards, with three touchdowns and three interceptions.
Cassel joined the Titans prior to the 2016, and he started the final game of the season after Mariota suffered a fractured fibula in Week 16 at Jacksonville. The Titans beat the Texans that day, as Cassel completed 16-of-26 passes for 150 yards, with a touchdown and an interception.
During his career he's played in 104 games, with 80 starts while playing for the Patriots, Chiefs, Vikings, Bills, Cowboys and the Titans.
Titans players take the field for Wednesday's practice at Saint Thomas Sports Park. (Photos: Gary Glenn)