Per NFL Media's Rand Getlin, Titans rookie standout Marcus Mariota suffered a minor knee sprain in Sunday's loss to the Patriots and will not play for the remainder of the season.

Titans interim coach Mike Mularkey ruled Mariota out for this week's game during his Monday news conference but did not go as far as to rule him out for the season finale. Mularkey added they won't play Mariota if there's any concern about his health.

The story is a bit conflicting. The media is reporting Mariota is out for the year but it doesn't sound like Mularkey is saying that just yet. Either way, Zach Mettenberger will play at least this week but possibly Week 17 as well.

Early in the Tennessee Titans' loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday, rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota went to the ground with a knee injury. He did not return for the rest of the game and, according to a report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, he may not return for the rest of the season.

Per NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport, Titans rookie standout Marcus Mariota suffered a minor knee sprain in Sunday's loss to the Patriots.

Having already missed time with a knee issue this year, the Titans might decide to sit him for the rest of the season, the story said. If Mariota does sit the final two games of the regular season, backup quarterback Zach Mettenberger would likely fill in but likely won't be a great fantasy option in Week 16.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota is battling his second knee injury of the 2015 season.

Mariota was forced from Sunday's game in the second quarter with a right knee injury. He did not return to the game, giving way to Zach Mettenberger.

The rookie signal-caller took a hit from Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins when running back Antonio Andrews missed a block.

Although the injury does not appear to be serious, the Titans opted to stick with Mettenberger for the final two quarters versus a New England pass rush winning the battle at the line of scrimmage. Mariota was fitted for several different braces and was seen jogging on the sideline to test the knee.

The Tennessee Titans pledged to give David Cobb about half the load in the running game Sunday against Jacksonville.

And the rookie running back's workload did come out dead even in the Titans’ third win of the season.

Starter Antonio Andrews had 13 carries and turned them into 58 yards and Cobb had 13 for 40 yards.

It was quarterback Marcus Mariota, however, who starred in the rushing offense, with nine carries for 112 yards including a fantastic 87-yard touchdown run that put the Titans ahead for good with 8:30 on the game clock.

HC Mike Mularkey said said the Titan running backs can do a better job. The fear when Cobb arrived on the scene was Andrews' workload would continue to be limited, and it has. Titan backs are risky plays outside of very deep leagues and it looks like they are going to continue to not feature one back.

After running just 11 times in his first six games, Titans rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota has run a combined 10 times in his last two games.

Look for the more mobile Mariota trend to continue, according to Titans interim coach Mike Mularkey.

“We’re tinkering a little more with his running ability,” Mularkey said. “As he’s gotten healthier, we’ve put more things in there that has given him the (ability to) run. It doesn’t mean he’s going to, but it gives him the opportunity to run.

“I like to see that if it is a breakdown (in a play), he’s got to get out of the pocket. That’s some of the things you’re seeing some of the other guys do. (Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles) has had a lot of success making plays out of the pocket. So we could see that the next six weeks.”

Mariota flashed his running ability against Buffalo (5-49) in Week 5, but prior to the last two weeks, he only had six rushes in the other five games. Over the last two weeks he has run the ball 10 times for 53 yards and a touchdown, but has failed to throw a touchdown pass. If Mariota can consistently run the ball, it will raise his week-to-week floor as a fantasy quarterback.