The Tennessee Titans have made it evident in recent months that the team’s full intention is to open the 2019 season with Marcus Mariota at starting quarterback.
Even so, uncertainty has still swirled with all the question marks surrounding Mariota’s injuries as last season came to a close, and now with the addition of a veteran like Ryan Tannehill who has starting experience.
During NFL Owners Meetings, Titans head coach Mike Vrabel continued to put those doubts to rest, saying Mariota was healing up nicely and excited to get back to the field.
“After our conversations together – we text and we talk and I say: ‘How are you feeling? How’s the family? How’s everything else?’ So I think he is enjoying some time away from this thing and he is really focused on coming back healthy and he’s excited about moving forward with (offensive coordinator) Arthur Smith and the staff,” he said in a report by the team’s Jim Wyatt.
The one-year deal Tannehill was signed to in mid-March was an insurance policy — nothing more.
In the eyes of Vrabel, Tannehill is simply an upgrade at backup over Blaine Gabbert.
“Obviously if Marcus is healthy, and he’s available, he’s our starter,” he explained. “We just felt like, to be able to strengthen the position, to have a chance to add a player like Ryan, who could help us if Marcus isn’t available, then we were excited to do so.”
Tannehill should be prepared to go into action if Mariota goes down, but don’t expect him to get a shot at the starting gig any time soon.
