Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota was carted off the field after suffering a leg injury that required an air cast. He was ruled out by the team shortly thereafter, and Titans coach Mike Mularkey revealed after the game that the quarterback suffered a fractured fibula.
Marcus Mariota suffers fractured leg vs. Jaguars
Mariota will undergo surgery in the next few days.
Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
The break will require surgical repair, and the team announced that Mariota will undergo surgery in the next few days.
Mariota was sacked on a first-down play in the third quarter by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Sheldon Day and stayed on the ground, sitting up and holding his right leg.
He was replaced in the game by Matt Cassel, a veteran quarterback who has played for the New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, and Dallas Cowboys before joining the Titans in the offseason.
Before Saturday, Cassel had just one pass attempt during his time with the Titans, but his first two passes in replacement of Mariota were incomplete, forcing Tennessee to punt. While he threw a touchdown pass, he followed it by later throwing an interception to Jalen Ramsey that was returned for a touchdown.
It was already a rough day for the Titans, who trailed the Jaguars 25-10 with playoff hopes on the line and eventually lost 38-17. Tennessee entered the week tied with the Houston Texans for the AFC South lead at 8-6, although Houston was the beneficiary of the tiebreaker. However, a win against the Jaguars would set up a de facto AFC South championship against the Texans in Week 17.
Mariota was the second overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft and notched his 26th touchdown pass of the season against the Jaguars. With the quarterback now done for the year, the playoff hopes for the Titans look dim.
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