The Tennessee Titans suffered through the longest game in NFL history, thanks to two, two-hour weather delays, and may have lost more than just a season opener with three key players leaving with injuries in a 27-20 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
The Titans lost left tackle Taylor Lewan to a concussion, lost quarterback Marcus Mariota to an elbow injury and then lost tight end Delanie Walker to what appears to be a serious leg/ankle injury late in the ballgame. He was carted off after an air cast was placed on the leg.
“I haven’t seen him since he left the field. He’s not in the locker room right now and so our thoughts and our prayers are with him. It certainly didn’t look good where I was standing and I’m sure it didn’t look any better from where you guys were either,” said Mike Vrabel, who was making his head coaching debut.
The Titans lost Lewan to a blindside block by the Dolphins’ Andre Branch on the first of two interceptions by Mariota. Lewan was hit on the play as he was trying to pursue Reshad Jones, who ha two picks on the day. The Titans’ left tackle did not return to the game. He was placed into the league’s concussion protocol.
Mariota just before that had been upended by former Titan William Hayes after handing off to Derrick Henry on a run-pass option play. He went to the sideline for one play, flexing his hand. He said after the game that he lost feeling in his hand and could not grip the ball.
“I thought it was late and low, but that’s not a decision for me to make. I was just trying to make him (the referee) aware of it,” Mariota said of Hayes’ hit. “That’s within the rules. But again, it’s a referee’s determination and I was just trying to make sure he saw it.”
Mariota, who was 9 of 16 for just 103 yards and the two picks, said he probably should have come out immediately instead of trying to play through the injury.
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