Marcus Mariota has dealt with a nagging issue in his throwing arm for much of the season, and it sounds like it is one that is more serious than the Tennessee Titans have indicated.
Mariota is not expected to start on Sunday in a game against the Indianapolis Colts that is essentially an extension of the playoffs. The winner will reach the postseason and the loser will be eliminated, so you know Mariota’s injury must be fairly serious if he is missing a game of that magnitude.
ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reports that it is. Mariota has been diagnosed with a stinger in his right arm, which is a nerve issue that has caused him to experience numbness and affected his ability to be able to grip and throw a football. According to Mortensen, the Titans were warned by an independent spine specialist that any further injury to the arm could affect Mariota’s long-term ability to throw and put him at risk of permanent damage.
While Mariota might feel good enough throwing the ball in warmups, the specialist reportedly told the Titans that it is the physical contact of a game that would put him at risk. That is likely why we have heard reports that Mariota is pushing to play but is going to have to watch Blaine Gabbert start in his place.
Mariota’s latest description of his injury sounded pretty troubling, and it makes you wonder if the Titans will be without him in the playoffs if they’re able to beat the Colts.
