NFL PLAYER NEWS

Titans QB Mariota feels good as camp opens

The Sports Xchange

July 29, 2017 at 8:25 pm.

Jul 29, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterbacks Marcus Mariota (8) and Matt Cassel (16) and Alex Tanney (11) and Tyler Ferguson (5) during training camp at Saint Thomas Sports Park. Photo Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Jul 29, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterbacks Marcus Mariota (8) and Matt Cassel (16) and Alex Tanney (11) and Tyler Ferguson (5) during training camp at Saint Thomas Sports Park. Photo Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

But the quarterback, who had surgery for a broken right fibula in December, was limited mostly in ways that were not apparent to the naked eye. For instance, the Titans tailored their play calls on the first day of camp to intentionally keep Mariota out of harm’s way – no read option, few rollouts, etc. Nothing that would run any sort of risk, but enough of the offensive playbook to allow him to move forward with the offense.

“There’s things that we’re holding back that you wouldn’t know. Obviously, we can create the scripts to avoid him from doing some of the things that we don’t want to throw him right into,” head coach Mike Mularkey said. “He took a good majority of the reps. I think his teammates were happy to have him back in the huddle, but we’re being smart with him.”

For his part, Mariota was happy to be doing more than he did in offseason work.

“I feel great. At that point in time when we left back in June, I was in a good spot, but I’m getting better every day, but to be out there today and run around and do the things that the coaches wanted me to do, felt really good,” Mariota said.

For the most part, Mariota was sharp in his passes, dropping in a nice sideline throw to tight end Delanie Walker, who made a sliding catch and showing a quick connection with his newest target, wide receiver Eric Decker.

Mariota also has shed a few pounds, down to 218 after being around 224 last year, hoping that makes him more explosive and has a little less weight on that surgically repaired leg.

“I just want to move around and play the way I’ve been playing, and carrying extra weight wasn’t going to necessarily allow me to do that,” said Mariota.

Mariota is looking forward to another test that comes with Monday’s full-pad practice.

“I”ve been looking forward to it for a long time. It’s kind of that goal in rehab. It’s what you want to get to, and I can’t wait to be a part of it,” Mariota said.

ROOKIE TO WATCH

–CB Adoree’ Jackson. With fellow first-rounder Corey Davis holding out the first day of camp, eyes were on the other first-round pick of the Titans. Jackson figures to play a prominent role not only at cornerback, where he is in the middle of a battle to start opposite Logan Ryan, but also on special teams where he figures to have the inside track as Tennessee’s punt returner. Jackson figures to jump-start an element of the Titans’ attack that has been largely dormant for a number of years, since Marc Mariani’s first stint in Tennessee.

NOTES, QUOTES

–Rookie first-round pick Corey Davis was not at the first practice as his contract had not been finished yet, but the rookie will be at practice on Sunday because the contract was completed during the first 30 minutes or so that the Titans were on the practice field.

“I’m pleased that he’s here. I’m glad that he’s here. I think his teammates are glad that he’s here. I know he’s very happy to be here. He didn’t miss very much, a couple of practices. He will not be behind. He’ll pick it right up,” Mularkey said.

Davis will join a Titans wide receiver crew that has been upgraded in the offseason, also with the additions of veteran Eric Decker and fellow rookie Taywan Taylor.

–Eric Decker wasted no time making a solid impression, catching everything he could get his hands on during the first practice Saturday.

Decker, who signed with the Titans just as offseason work ended, got together with Marcus Mariota and the other Titans receivers a couple of weeks before camp opened to get a crash course in the offense.

“He makes it easy. He made a couple of great plays, and that’s something to build off of. And hopefully, we can carry that over,” Mariota said. “He’s savvy. He finds ways to get open and gets great separation. So I think the way he was able to come out and make some plays says a lot about him.”

For Decker, such things have kept him around the NFL for eight seasons with three different teams.

“Maybe I’m not the fastest guy or the quickest guy or the strongest guy, but if you do things consistently right over a long period of time, you’re going to have success,” Decker said.

–Linebacker Kevin Dodd was cleared and back on the practice field after having two surgeries in the past 14 months for a fifth metatarsal injury in his right foot.

Dodd admitted Saturday that he feared for his career when he had to have the second procedure.

“After I got that second surgery, I thought it was over with,” Dodd said of his career. “But (head coach) Mike (Mularkey) and (general manager) Jon (Robinson) told me to be patient, and they would work with me, that this kind of thing happens. It was just a freak injury, and they told me to be patient.

“So I learned to be patient with this injury.”