Marcus Mariota is not yet fully recovered from the broken leg he suffered last December, but the Tennessee Titans are hoping he can return to practice later this month in some capacity.
While he acknowledged that Mariota is not running at full speed, Titans coach Mike Mularkey said at the first day of rookie minicamp on Friday that Mariota could “do some things” when organized team activities start on May 23.
“We’re going to do some things that (Mariota is) going to be able to practice, do some things that aren’t going to subject him to (further injury),” Mularkey said, per Jason Wolf of The Tennessean. “We may do more 7-on-7s than we ever have done, just things like that to try to help him out.”
Mariota is not expected to be a full participant until training camp in late July, and the Titans are obviously not going to push him. However, the team did draft former Western Michigan star wide receiver Corey Davis with the No. 5 overall pick and went with another receiver in the third round.
“You’re talking about timing in the passing game, that’s one way to be able to do it without a rush in his face and having to move,” Mularkey said of Mariota taking part in 7-on-7 drills. “It’s one way. We’re working on other ways to get the work done.”
Mariota, who is going into his third season in the league, has looked good in his first two NFL seasons. He passed for 2,818 yards, 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions as a rookie. He progressed last season, throwing for 3,426 yards, 26 touchdowns and 9 interceptions.
