INDIANAPOLIS —Will Marcus Mariota be under center for the Tennessee Titans in their primetime matchup against the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night?
That question will apparently have to be answered just before kickoff.
The Titans on Saturday said Mariota, who suffered a hamstring injury two weeks ago and missed last week's game against the Miami Dolphins, is officially questionable for the game against the Colts.
Mariota was labeled as a limited participant in practice all week, and Titans head coach Mike Mularkey said Friday the team won't make any brash decisions just so that their starting quarterback can play one game and risk further injury.
"It is going to come down to a lot of things," Mularkey said, via TitansOnline.com. "It might be a game-time decision. Can he play and not risk himself further injury? That's the biggest thing."
If Mariota is unable to play Monday, the Titans will go with 13-year veteran Matt Cassel under center. Cassel completed 21-of-32 passes for 141 yards with a touchdown, and was sacked six times, last Sunday in Tennessee's 16-10 loss to the Dolphins.
While the Colts' defense will have a plan ready to deploy should Cassel get the start, head coach Chuck Pagano said earlier in the week that he believed No. 8 will play on Monday night for their division rival.
"We're going to prepare like it is (Mariota starting)," Pagano said. "I'm fully confident, reading between the lines, that he'll be out there."
In three games against the Colts, Mariota has completed 74-of-119 passes (62.2 percent) for six touchdowns to two interceptions, though he's been sacked 11 times in those matchups and fumbled twice, one of which was returned for a touchdown. The Colts are 3-0 in those games.
Two Titans players — safety Jonathan Cyprien and rookie wide receiver Corey Davis, who are also battling hamstring injuries — have been ruled out of Monday's game, while linebacker Daren Bates (knee) is questionable.
For the Colts, inside linebacker Anthony Walker (hamstring), quarterback Andrew Luck (right shoulder) and tackle/guard Jack Mewhort (knee) have each been ruled out against the Titans. Pagano announced Saturday that Mewhort, the team's starting right guard, had experienced swelling in his knee on Friday and would be placed on Injured Reserve to undergo surgery.
Inside linebacker Jon Bostic (calf), meanwhile, is questionable for the Colts.
