Tennessee Titians quarterback Marcus Mariota will have surgery Wednesday to have a plate inserted in his leg after fracturing his fibula in a 38-17 Week 16 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Marcus Mariota to have surgery on broken fibula to insert plate, 4-5 month recovery expected
Mariota was having a great sophomore season for the Titans before it ended due to injury.
Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
It is expected to take four to five months for Mariota to recover from the surgery, but Titans coach Mike Mularkey told reporters Monday that the team hopes the quarterback will be back in time to participate in some organized team activities (OTAs) in the offseason.
Late in the third quarter, Jaguars defensive tackle Sheldon Day tackled Mariota by his legs for a sack. As Mariota fell to the ground, his right ankle twisted. The young signal caller was on the ground in pain and was carted off the field, and a portable cast was placed on his right ankle.
Mariota did not return to the game and finished with 99 passing yards and a touchdown. Titans backup quarterback Matt Cassel relieved Mariota and threw for 124 yards to go along with touchdown and an interception.
Since Tennessee lost and the Houston Texans defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, 12-10, the Titans are officially eliminated from playoff contention at 8-7. The Texans have clinched the AFC South.
Following the loss, Titans head coach Mike Mularkey said, “It’s the first time this season we have been beaten like that. It’s a bad time for it.”
Mariota was having a great season for Tennessee. He made big plays from the pocket with his arm, and he used his speed to gain yards when the pocket collapsed.
Tennessee’s star quarterback finished with 3,426 passing yards to go along with 26 touchdowns and nine interceptions. The Titans have a Week 17 matchup against the Texans at LP Field.
This game will still be meaningful for Tennessee. If the Titans can walk away with a Week 17 victory over Houston, they will finish the season at 9-7, their first winning season since the 2011 season.
If Tennessee wants to win, it must continue to run the ball with running backs DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry. The Titans have the third-best rushing attack in the league, so they will not have to depend on Matt Cassel’s arm to win this game.
Cassel must make a couple of plays from the pocket, keep drives alive, and avoid turnovers. Defensively, Tennessee has to limit big plays and create turnovers.
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