Could Marcus Mariota miss multiple games?

The Titans' franchise quarterback could return from a strained hamstring to face the Colts (2-3) on "Monday Night Football" next week at Nissan Stadium, coach Mike Mularkey said Sunday.

"You can listen to NFL Network or you can listen to me," Mularkey said after the Titans' 16-10 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium. "When I say day to day, I tell you like it is."

Mularkey disputed a report from NFL Network that Mariota originally was expected to need two to four weeks to recover from an injury he suffered Oct. 1 at Houston. The bad news is, as the story said, the Titans play Week 6 on Monday night, which means owners will need a backup plan, or will have to risk starting him based on information that comes out this week.

According to a tweet sent out by Jim Wyatt, Titans head coach Mike Mularkey believes QB Marcus Mariota will be a game time decision.

If Mariota is out, you have to downgrade all of your Titans pass-catchers and give a bump up to their RBs Derrick Henry and DeMarco Murray. Whoever starts for Tennesse at QB in place of Mariota against the Dolphins does have a great matchup according to our aFPA metric, but Matt Cassel or Brandon Weeden would be nothing more than bye week replacements in 2QB or Superflex leagues.

The good news: Titans QB Marcus Mariota practiced on Thursday.
The bad news: head coach Mike Mularkey wants Mariota to have "mobility" before allowing him to play on Sunday.

Mariota is currently ranked as our No. 17 QB for the week in a good matchup versus a Miami Dolphins defense allowing 17.6 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. If Mariota is cleared to play he will likely move up in our rankings.

The Titans are planning to sign free agent QB Brandon Weeden, according to a league source.

Related players: Marcus Mariota

Weeden would be an insurance policy. It may or may not indicate Mariota's status for Week 5 so be sure to monitor the situation.

The Titans sent quarterback Marcus Mariota for an MRI on his hamstring after he injured it in Sunday’s blowout loss to the Texans and the results don’t suggest he’s set for an extended absence from the lineup.

Coach Mike Mularkey said on Monday that the test showed a hamstring strain for Mariota and they are considering him day-to-day in terms of a timeline for a return to action. Mularkey compared Mariota’s injury to the one DeMarco Murray suffered a couple of weeks ago and the Titans are surely hoping things play out the same way.

The story speculated the team may not make a call on Mariota until Sunday, which obviously leaves fantasy owners hanging. The good news is it's an early game at Miami.

The Titans announced quarterback Marcus Mariota has left after injuring his hamstring. Matt Cassel has replaced him.

Mariota ran for two scores, including a 34-yarder, in the first half. He was questionable to return but was later ruled out. His Week 5 status is certainly up in the air.

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.