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Titans to Make QB Decision - Marcus Mariota or Blaine Gabbert? - Within "24 Hours"

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota practiced on Friday, but his status for Sunday's game vs. the Jaguars remains undecided.

Titans coach Mike Vrabel said Mariota is about the same as he was Thursday, when he showed some improvement. Mariota continues to work his way back from the elbow injury that kept him out of Sunday's game vs Houston.

He's been listed as questionable on the Injury Report after being limited again in Friday's session.

"It is probably going to take the next 24 hours to make a decision," Vrabel said. "It is pretty much the same as it's been since Wednesday. A little bit of improvement since last week."

Mariota once again practiced wearing a glove with two open fingers on his right hand.

Mariota was active but didn't play on Sunday vs. the Texans. Back-up quarterback Blaine Gabbert got the start, and guided the Titans to a 20-17 win at Nissan Stadium. He was awarded a game ball for his performance.

"We keep all those options open," Vrabel replied when asked if the team might put a package in for Mariota. "Just like last week there was probably a package, we'll see what each guy feels comfortable with as we go into the game plan and get it cleaned up here this afternoon and tonight."

Mariota didn't finish the season opener against the Dolphins after suffering the elbow injury. He was a full participant in last Wednesday's session leading up to the game vs. Houston, but the team decided to scale back his work on Thursday and then again on Friday. He was limited all three days in practices this week.

Mariota was injured in the season opener after taking a hit by Dolphins defensive lineman William Hayes. Mariota had just handed the ball off to running back Derrick Henry, and he didn't have the ball when he was hit.

Gabbert, an eight-year veteran, completed 13-of-20 passes for 117 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's contest. He engineered a 12-play, 62-yard drive that was capped off by kicker Ryan Succop's game-winning field goal with one minute left.

Mariota acknowledged on Wednesday he still feels some numbness and tingling in his fingers as a result of the injury. Mariota said the whole hand is affected by the injury "but the numbness and the (tingling) is a couple of fingers. The weakness is the whole hand, and that is what I am working on."

The Titans will continue to watch him.

"We never would want to put a player out there that couldn't protect himself and do his job, and had so many limitations that he couldn't be effective," Vrabel said. "Whether it's an ankle, elbow or knee, we never want to do that."

The Tennessee Titans take the field for practice on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018 at Saint Thomas Sports Park. (Photos: Gary Glenn)

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