The Sports Xchange

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans are hopeful that quarterback Marcus Mariota can play on Sunday, but they still won’t know until later in the week how strong that possibility is.

Mariota suffered a sprained MCL in his left knee in last Sunday’s loss to the Miami Dolphins, but stayed in the game until it was out of hand late. That said, an MRI revealed the sprain, and Mariota missed practice on Wednesday to try and rest and heal. The knee had swelling on Monday after the game, but Mariota was walking without a knee brace on Wednesday.

“That’s kind of a common thing. It didn’t feel too bad. It’s not really a pain thing with me. So moving forward, hopefully, it will continue to feel better and I’ll be ready to go on Sunday,” Mariota said.

Mariota has had a similar injury before, suffering a sprained MCL in the same knee back in 2013 when he was a redshirt sophomore at the University of Oregon. He did not miss any games due to the injury then, playing with a brace on to protect it.

“I have to go through the same protocol that I did in college, making sure I’m ready to go, but having that same injury is going to help me with my treatment and how I feel,” said Mariota, who indicated that the injury was similar to the one he had two years ago.

In the meantime, the Titans have a bigger issue, one that was the direct cause of Mariota’s injury – their inability to protect the quarterback. Some of it is on the ineffectiveness of the offensive line. That group yielded 50 sacks in 2014 and had three different quarterbacks knocked out due to injuries – coincidentally all were shoulder injuries.

Through five games this year, the Titans have already given up 20 sacks, which would put them on pace to give up 64 on the season. That is a number that is totally unacceptable. Now, the Titans will have two rookies protecting their quarterback as center Brian Schwenke was lost with a gruesome ankle injury and sixth-round pick Andy Gallik will be the starter.

“It’s got to be better than it was (Sunday). That’s got to happen this week. But it’s something that as we continue to grow, as we get guys playing together a little bit longer, we’ll get it off quicker,” Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt said of protecting the quarterback. “We’ll understand those situations and get it to the back. ‘Live to fight another day’ type of mentality.”

SERIES HISTORY: 14th regular-season meeting. Titans lead series, 7-6. The last time the Titans and Falcons met at Nissan Stadium, the game was memorable because Albert Haynesworth leapfrogged the Falcons offensive line on a goal-line stand to prevent the Falcons from scoring the tying TD in a 20-13 Tennessee win.

GAME PLAN

–The Titans need to get back to what they do best – whatever that is. All season long, people have harped on head coach Ken Whisenhunt and his staff for not having an identity on either side of the football. The thing the Titans seem to have the most success with is the intermediate passing game, and late developing timing routes. The Titans, however, have suffered the consequences of that, too, as they have been sacked 20 times and Marcus Mariota has lost four fumbles all in the pocket. Some help from the running game to keep the Falcons potent offense off the field would help.

Defensively, the Titans may be short-handed in the secondary, which is not good news with the Falcons explosive receivers like Julio Jones and Roddy White, not to mention running back Devonta Freeman. Getting pressure on Matt Ryan consistently is key here to having a chance.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH

–Titans DE Jurrell Casey vs. Falcons G Andy Levitre.

Levitre was a high-priced free agent who flopped for the Titans and was dealt to the Falcons at the end of the preseason. It has worked out well for Levitre in Atlanta, but he will face a big challenge from Casey, who knows him well from practicing against him for two years.

–Titans CB Jason McCourty vs. Falcons WR Julio Jones.

Jones has been lighting everyone up thus far this season, and if the Titans don’t have Perrish Cox, McCourty could find himself matched up on Jones exclusively, because the Titans wouldn’t want Coty Sensabaugh or Blidi Wreh-Wilson against the Falcons superstar any more than they have to.