Marcus Mariota among six Titans voted team captains
Marcus Mariota is among six players the Titans voted as team captains, coach Mike Mularkey said Thursday.
The second-year quarterback joins Pro Bowlers in tight end Delanie Walker, defensive end Jurrell Casey and outside linebacker Brian Orakpo, as well as inside linebacker Wesley Woodyard and safety Daimion Stafford, two each for offense, defense and special teams.
“I don’t know what it means to him,” Walker said about Mariota, “but to us, it means that he commands the offense, right? And for a quarterback to command the offense, he must be a leader. He has to be a leader.
“And he’s not going to be the guy that’s going to scream, yell. I think we have the same approach,” Walker said. “He goes out there, he gives it all he's got. If he’s hurt, he’s out there trying to win a game for us, and I think that’s what people see out of Marcus Mariota, and that’s why he got his ‘C’ put on his jersey. Because he is a true leader.”
Mariota was also named a team captain toward end of last season, but missed the final two games after being injured early in a loss at New England.
The Heisman Trophy winner, drafted out of Oregon with the second overall pick, set several NFL and Titans rookie records last season while completing 62.2 percent of his passes for 2,818 yards, 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 12 games.
He also rushed for 252 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries and caught a 41-yard touchdown pass.
Captains represent the team at midfield during the coin toss.
“I don’t think it’s an automatic because you’re the quarterback,” Mularkey said about Mariota being voted a team captain. “I don’t believe that. I believe it’s because you’ve earned it. And he’s done everything to earn that right to be voted by his teammates. Most cases, quarterbacks are, but I don’t think it’s a given.
“He represents everything we stand for, and I think that’s why this team voted him for one of the offensive captains.”
Titans claim lineman: The Titans claimed guard Josh Kline off waivers from the Patriots and waived cornerback Cody Riggs.
The 6-3, 300-pound offensive lineman was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2013 and has played in 33 games, with 18 starts.
He started 13 of 14 games with the Patriots during last year’s regular season, seven at right guard and six at left guard. He also started at left guard in two playoff games.
Sidelined: Wide receiver Kendall Wright (hamstring) was the only player not to participate in practice Thursday. He has already been ruled out of the season opener against the Vikings.
Reach Jason Wolf atjwolf@tennessean.comand follow him on Twitter at@JasonWolfand on Instagram and Snapchat atTitansBeat.
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