10:02 am | September 23, 2018 | Go to Source | Author:
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Turron DavenportESPN
The Tennessee Titans didn’t feel comfortable with Marcus Mariota starting at quarterback against the Jacksonville Jaguars in week 4, but Mariota came on in the first quarter after starter Blaine Gabbert was sacked and left the game.
Gabbert was taken into the locker room to be evaluated for a concussion.
Head coach Mike Vrabel had opted to start Gabbert with Mariota still not fully recovered from the pinched nerve in his elbow.
Their plan was foiled on their third drive when Gabbert was sacked by Jaguars defensive tackle Malik Jackson on 3rd and 19.
Gabbert fumbled the ball and Jacksonville recovered. Jackson was called for lowering his head, giving the Titans the ball back and a first down. Tennessee was forced to turn to Mariota.
Mariota came in and handed the ball off to Dion Lewis on his first snap. On the next play he pitched the ball to Lewis for a 9-yard rushing gain. Mariota’s first pass attempt, intended for wide receiver Rishard Matthews, fell incomplete and Ryan Succop connected on a 39-yard field goal to make the score 3-0 in favor of Tennessee.
Mariota came back in on the next series with the Titans having the ball at their 4-yard line. Despite being under pressure, Mariota managed to escape the pocket and scramble for a 13-yard gain. He then picked up four yards a couple of plays later before the first quarter ended.
Vrabel said wide receiver Darius Jennings is the emergency option after Mariota. Jennings is equipped with one of the three green dot helmets the Titans were issued for their signal callers.
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