JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Titans had virtually managed to bubble wrap Marcus Mariota this year.
With three new starters on a line with a new coach in Russ Grimm, with revamped protections, with better help from backs and tight ends, with the quarterbacks’ improved willingness to throw it away, they’d kept him healthy.
But it took just one moment to undo all that. He tried to get out of the pocket in the third quarter, defensive tackle Sheldon Day got him from his feet from behind and he went down hard.
Punching the ground once he sat up, he got an air cast and a cart ride.