Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel needs some more time to decide who will start at quarterback in Week 7, he told reporters in his Monday news conference.
Vrabel said he planned to make a decision in time to inform his team Tuesday if it will be Marcus Mariota or Ryan Tannehill behind center Sunday when the Titans (2-4) host the Chargers (2-4) at Nissan Stadium.
“It’s such a critical position. They’re the leader of the football team. They have the ball in their hands 100 percent of the time,” Vrabel said, per Albert Breer of The MMQB.
Mariota was pulled in the second half of a 16-0 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday, and Tannehill finished the game.
Mariota was 7-of-18 passes for 63 yards and two interceptions. Tannehill completed 13 of his 16 attempts for 144 yards.
Vrabel and the Titans also are facing a long-term decision at quarterback.
Mariota, whom the Titans selected No. 2 overall in the 2015 NFL Draft, is in the final year of his five-year rookie deal. Tannehill, a former first-round draft pick of the Miami Dolphins, signed a one-year deal in the offseason with the Titans.
In his Titans career, Mariota is 29-32 as a starter with a 62.9 completion percentage, with 76 touchdowns and 44 interceptions. He turns 26 later this month.
Tannehill, 31, is 42-46 as an NFL starter. With the Dolphins from 2012-18, he also has a 62.9 completion percentage, with 123 touchdown passes and 76 interceptions after Sunday’s game.
