Titans running back Derrick Henry may start against the Seahawks on Sunday at Nissan Stadium.

But it won't be a changing of the guard.

Titans coach Mike Mularkey said he still views DeMarco Murray as the starter and Henry as the backup – when both are healthy.

Murray and rookie wide receiver Corey Davis are day-to-day with hamstring strains, Mularkey said Monday, and it’s uncertain whether either will play against Seattle. Both players missed multiple preseason games with hamstring injuries.

Related players: Eric Decker Rishard Matthews

Henry had a big role last week with Murray banged up and he'll go against a Seahawk defense that was just lit up by Carlos Hyde - assuming Murray can't go.

Titans coach Mike Mularkey began fielding questions about Derrick Henry potentially overtaking DeMarco Murray from the moment the former Alabama back was taken in the second round a year and a half ago. Mularkey has been steadfast in saying Murray is the starter. And he has been.

But now Murray is dealing with a tight hamstring that caused him to miss the fourth quarter Sunday. It’s his second hamstring injury in as many months.

The story eluded the team could use both styles of backs - Henry the physical runner and Murray, who is more about vision and pass catching. If anything, it could mean less of a workload going forward if Henry continues to impress.

Marcus Mariota led the Titans to points on each of the first two drives against the Panthers in the second preseason game Saturday at Nissan Stadium, leaving with a 10-0 lead. He was replaced by Matt Cassel. Mariota completed 6 of 8 passes for 61 yards, a touchdown and a 135.9 passer rating. He threw one touchdown pass to tight end Delanie Walker and added a nine yard rush.

With DeMarco Murray not playing, Derrick Henry gave a glimpse of how impressive he could be if Murray were to ever miss time. He was not efficient on the ground with 16 carries for only 36 yards (2.3 avg) but punched in two touchdowns (including a 17-yard score). Henry also caught three passes for 17 yards.

Related players: DeMarco Murray, Delanie Walker, Rishard Matthews, Eric Decker, Corey Davis

Henry had a solid rookie year, turning 123 touches into 627 total yards and five scores and finishing as the #45 RB in PPR formats (#39 in standard). Unfortunately, not much has changed in the Tennessee backfield as the still-productive DeMarco Murray is expected to continue to serve as the team’s lead back. Barring a Murray injury, it’s difficult to see a path to a top-25 finish for the second-year back.

In his first 27 NFL games, Mariota has averaged 17.7 fantasy points per game, which would have extrapolated to about what Dak Prescott scored last year as the league’s #6 fantasy quarterback. When his six-attempt game against the Patriots (from his rookie year) is removed, his average jumps to 18.3 fantasy points. With the addition of Corey Davis, the #5 overall pick, and TD-machine Eric Decker, Mariota now has Davis, Decker, Rishard Matthews and Delanie Walker to throw to. The Titans have invested heavily in the passing game, which is an indicator that the team is willing to open up the offense. If he plays a full season, a top 5 season is well within reach. This makes Mariota an excellent value in the middle rounds.

Running back DeMarco Murray was on the Titans practice field and going through drills after almost two weeks on the sideline. Coach Mike Mularkey said Murray did so much work early in the session that he dialed things back toward the tail end of practice.

“He looked good,” Mularkey said. “He actually did more than I was expecting. I’m the one that pulled him out of the team period because of the number of reps he had up to that point. I was pleased with the way he looked.”

Related Players: Derrick Henry

Henry carried 8 times for 29 yards in preseason Week 1, but Murray is again expected to carry the load in Tennessee. Murray is ranked ninth on our RB list and can be had in the middle of the second round, but Henry might be a nice handcuff to grab in later rounds.

Titans HC Mike Mularkey was asked about the team's running back situation.

“(Derrick Henry) is an important part of our offense,’’ Mularkey said of Henry, a Heisman Trophy winner at Alabama who was a second-round pick by the Titans in last year’s draft. “Obviously DeMarco Murray is the guy. He has shown he is the guy and he will continue to be that guy.

“But I will say this: Each week we put a different game plan together. We spend a lot of hours preparing to play the opponent. And Derrick, and as you saw, some games he was more involved than others. And a lot is based on how we are going to attack the opponent. We know (Derrick) is very special. He is going to have a long, great career here and he is going to be a big part of our offense next year, as he was this year.

“I like we have a one-two punch to smash it down peoples’ throats to be honest with you.”

In the first eight games, Murray averaged 116 total yards and 1.0 TD per game (21.4 PPG), but in the second half of the season he averaged just 89 yards and 0.5 TD (15.0 PPG). Part of the reason was Derrick Henry’s expanded role down the stretch (6.6 rushing attempts in Weeks 1-8 and 9.5 attempts from Weeks 9-17). Murray’s numbers are still solid, but he doesn’t look like a 1st round pick in 2017.