NASHVILLE, Tenn. —The Titans aren't sure who will start for the team at quarterback on Sunday against the Texans, but coach Ken Whisenhunt said he's hoping to get some answers on Tuesday.
That's when coaches and trainers plan to reevaluate rookie Marcus Mariota, from his health to his mobility.
"Right now he is doing well. We are going to see tomorrow kind of where he is and that will give us an idea going forward about practicing,'' Whisenhunt said of Mariota. "Like you guys saw last week, walking around, everything looks good. It is just some of the football stuff you want to make sure we are OK with.
"We certainly want to make sure he is OK before he goes back on the field."
Whisenhunt said he's optimistic about Mariota's chances of returning to practice, "but it's still early, and we'll get a better feel as the week progresses."
After starting the first five games of the season, Mariota sat out of Sunday's 10-7 loss against the Falcons with the MCL sprain he suffered on October 18 against the Dolphins. He went 1-4 in his starts, completing 103-of-161 passes for 1,239 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions.
Zach Mettenberger started in place of Mariota against the Falcons.
"It was tough for him before the game,'' Whisenhunt said of Mariota. "You could see that in his face, especially when we were on the field in pregame. That's a quality that you like…"
Mettenberger completed 22-of-35 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown against the Falcons, but he threw two interceptions, including one on his final pass of the game, which killed the comeback attempt.
The Falcons ran out the clock, and the Titans dropped to 1-5.
Whisenhunt said he thought Mettenberger did a nice job moving in the pocket, and he liked the way he kept two hands on the football. He's improving, Whisenhunt said.
"He got the ball out quick at times,'' Whisenhunt said of Mettenberger. "You could tell he was a little rusty…But he did some good things.
"He looked like a different player with his feet in the pocket, and that is something that he worked on. He is healthier this year than he was last year."
