Tennessee Titans right to be cautious with Marcus Mariota, Corey Davis
By Dale Lolley
The Tennessee Titans aren’t going to rush Marcus Mariota or Corey Davis into practice, which is the right call.
Baby steps. It doesn’t have the same ring to it as Al Davis’ “Just win, baby,” mantra. But the Tennessee Titans are going to take it easy on quarterback Marcus Mariota and rookie receiver Corey Davis. Not that they have a lot of choice.
Mariota, of course, is coming off a broken leg suffered Dec. 24 against Jacksonville. And head coach Mike Mularkey said that while the injury is healing nicely, the Titans won’t push things during their OTA sessions.
“We’re going to do some things that he’s going to be able to practice, so some things that aren’t going to subject him to being (placed at risk),” Mularkey told ESPN.com.
“We’re going to do some things that he’s going to be able to practice, do some things that aren’t going to subject him to being (at risk),” Mularkey said. “We may do more 7-on-7s than we’ve ever done, things like that to try to help him out.”
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
The same goes for Davis, who continues to recover from an ankle surgery that did not allow him to work out for teams in the pre-draft process. That doesn’t mean, however, Davis didn’t make an immediate impression.
“He’s a good-looking athlete,” said Mularkey of the fifth-overall pick in the draft, also per ESPN. “We’re monitoring what we’re doing with him now, making sure he’s recovering from his surgery. Right now, he’s on schedule. This is all our plan. He’s itching to practice. We’re going to be smart with him.
“It’s hard for me to hold him back, but that’s the way it is.”
Mularkey is playing the long game instead of the short one. While the base for a winning season and playoff push can now be laid, it won’t happen if Mariota or Davis suffer a long-term setback. Both are big reasons why the Titans feel good about their chance to return to the playoffs for the first since 2008. But both also are recovering from serious injuries.
There’s still plenty to be learned by Davis as he assimilates a new offense. And, entering his third season, Mariota should have a firm grasp of the offense. Getting on the same page with all of the new weapons the Titans have acquired can happen in training camp.
“You talk about timing in the passing game, that’s one way to be able to do it without a rush in (Mariota’s) face and having to move,” Mularkey said. “It’s one way.
“We’re working on other ways to get the work done.”
Next: 2017 NFL Draft: Titans', each team's biggest steal
Championships aren’t necessarily won in offseason optional practices, but they can be lost. The NFL season is a marathon, not a sprint. And the Titans will be better served if Mariota and Davis are there for the start of the long race.