Marcus Mariota misses practice but says chances of playing 'pretty good'

— -- NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota didn't practice Wednesday but said his sprained left knee suffered in Sunday's loss to Miami continues to feel better.

"It feels pretty good, it's felt better every single day. Hopefully it will continue to feel better," he said after Zach Mettenberger ran the offense in practice. "... It's not really a pain thing with me, hopefully it will continue to feel better, and I'll be ready to go on Sunday."

Mariota, who was wearing shorts when he spoke to the media and wore no brace or wrap on his knee, rated his chances to play as "pretty good."

He played the final four games of the 2013 season at Oregon on a sprained left knee that he said was "pretty similar" to this one.

"Having that same injury is kind of going to help me with my treatment and how I feel," he said.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt said Mariota is day-to-day.

"When he can go, he'll go," Whisenhunt said. "I think you've got to feel good about his ability to move and that there is no issues with his knee.

"I think you've just got to walk the line of, he's a tough guy, and he wants to play. We've got to make sure that he's OK to play."

Mariota suffered by injury in the second quarter of the Titans' 38-10 loss on a play that both Whisenhunt and left tackle Taylor Lewan called "bulls--- football." Defensive end Olivier Vernon hit Mariota low and late and has said he's been fined.

Mariota said after the game that Vernon had apologized, and the quarterback said he didn't think the play was malicious. He said the fine is the NFL's opinion, and he had no say in or control of it.

Mettenberger started six games last year for the Titans, completing 59.8 percent of his passes for 1,412 yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions.

"Watching Marcus has paid dividends for me," he said.