Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) swats backup Ryan Tannehill as part of a drill Tuesday in Nashville. The Titans made a trade with the Miami Dolphins to get Tannehill in the offseason, but coach Mike Vrabel said Mariota’s “job is not in jeopardy.”NASHVILLE – Going into the final year of his rookie contract, Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota hasn’t changed anything about how he prepares for an NFL season.
That includes no talk of holding out or public demands for a new deal. The 25-year-old Honolulu native prefers to show up and work hard during the voluntary offseason program in hopes of being the best he can be.
“Let it ride,” Mariota said Tuesday. “I mean, no matter what, still I get to come out here. I get to play a game that I love, and I’m going to make the most of it.”
Mariota’s injury history is the obvious reason why the Titans have yet to sign him to an extension after picking up his option for 2019 at $20.9 million. He has missed at least one game a season and eight combined through his first four years in the NFL, and he is coming off a season in which he had his fewest passes (331), completions (228) passing yards (2,528) and touchdown passes (11) as a professional. However, he did have his highest percent of completed passes (68.9) and just eight interceptions while dealing with being sacked 42 times.
A revolving cast of coaches hasn’t helped Mariota or the offense. Mike Vrabel is Mariota’s third head coach since being drafted No. 2 overall in 2015, and Arthur Smith is his fourth offensive coordinator and fifth play-caller. Vrabel promoted Smith from coaching tight ends to make the transition as smooth as possible – the only offensive change after former Titans coordinator Matt LaFleur was hired as the Green Bay Packers’ head coach.