NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans want to jump-start an offense that has just one touchdown over the past 10 quarters, so they’re turning to veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill and benching Marcus Mariota.
At least for Sunday.
“We’re trying to get a little spark, trying to evaluate what we’re doing and how we’re functioning as an offense,” coach Mike Vrabel said Wednesday.
Tannehill, the eight-year veteran with 88 career starts for Miami, will make his first Tennessee start against the Chargers (2-4).
“I just felt like now was the time …,” Vrabel said.
Not that Mariota, the No. 2 pick overall in 2015 and 2014 Heisman Trophy winner, is benched for the final 10 games left on his $20.9 million contract.
“I wouldn’t rule anything out,” Vrabel said of Mariota starting again this season. “This is a decision that we made for this week. We’re going to need Marcus in some form or fashion throughout the season, but I think the most important thing is this week.”
Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said they will be preparing for both quarterbacks. He coached against Tannehill when he was in the AFC East and noted that Tannehill played against the Chargers a couple years ago too.
“He’s a good player,” Lynch said of Tannehill. “He can move around, create, throw the ball.”
Vrabel didn’t make the move to bench Mariota in a vacuum.
The second-year head coach said controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk, general manager Jon Robinson and other coaches were part of the decision. The Titans (2-4) have scored just 98 points through six games — and the defense, the NFL’s No. 5 scoring unit, contributed an interception return for a touchdown to that total.