JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — If the Tennessee Titans make the playoffs, they won’t have quarterback Marcus Mariota.

Mariota broke his right leg in a 38-17 loss at Jacksonville on Saturday, a crushing setback for a team that had so many things go right while winning three straight and 7 of 10.

“That breaks my heart, man,” Titans offensive tackle Taylor Lewan said. “Love him. That guy’s an awesome dude. For that to happen to him, it’s unfair.”

With the Titans (8-7) trailing 25-10 late in the third quarter, Mariota was carted off the field with an air cast on his fractured fibula. Rookie Sheldon Day sacked Mariota as the quarterback scrambled on first down and grabbed him around the lower legs. Mariota signaled to the sideline as he pounded the ground. Trainers rushed to his side, put on the air cast and lifted Mariota onto a cart. Teammates and even some Jaguars patted Mariota on the shoulders before he exited.

The second overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft, Mariota completed 61.2 percent of his passes this season for 3,426 yards with 26 touchdown passes and nine interceptions. He also ran for two scores.

Mariota’s rookie season also ended early, as he missed the final two games because of a sprained knee.

Advertisement

Journeyman Matt Cassel replaced Mariota and completed 13 of 24 passes for 124 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

SEAHAWKS: Wide receiver Tyler Lockett was carted off the field with a serious right leg injury against Arizona.

Lockett fell awkwardly as he made a catch, and defender Brandon Williams fell on his lower right leg. An air cast was placed on Lockett’s leg and he was carted away.

BUCCANEERS: Tampa Bay deactivated running back Doug Martin for Saturday’s game against New Orleans in what team officials called a coach’s decision.

Martin was not on the Buccaneers’ injury report. The NFL’s second-leading rusher in 2015 with 1,402 yards, Martin has played in only eight games this season and has rushed for 421 yards, averaging just 2.9 yards per carry.

VIKINGS: Minnesota’s team plane slid off a Wisconsin runway in snowy conditions Friday and became stuck in the grass, leaving players waiting for hours to get off the aircraft.

A team spokesman said there were no injuries after the landing shortly after 5 p.m. at Appleton International Airport.

The airport did not have a staircase tall enough to reach the doorway of the stuck plane. Firetrucks arrived to retrieve passengers, but only two could leave the plane at a time.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.