GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) - Marcus Mariota is proving to be a quick study with a new coach installing yet another offensive system for the Tennessee Titans.
Maybe Mike Vrabel will stick around for a while for Tennessee.
The Titans had a memorable opening series in Vrabel’s preseason debut as coach before the Packers pulled away in a matchup of the backups for a 31-17 win on Thursday night.
“It was cool. I love this team, I do. I love these guys,” Vrabel said about first time on the sideline leading the Titans.
Mariota was 2 of 3 for 42 yards with a 4-yard scoring pass to Darius Jennings on the opening drive of Mike Vrabel’s first preseason game as Titans coach. Mariota also had one carry for 7 yards before leaving after the nine-play series.
It was a nice, if brief, start for Mariota. He’s picking up a new scheme under his third head coach in four seasons.
“I thought we got into rhythm. We were able to go down and score a touchdown, which is always good. And hopefully we can just continue to build off of that,” Mariota said.
Packers receiver Davante Adams needed just one series to show he was in midseason form before joining starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers and many other Packers starters on the sideline.
But backup Brett Hundley showed glimpses of improvement under center, going 9 of 14 for 108 yards and an 8-yard score to running back Jamaal Williams on the drive after Tennessee’s score.
Hundley did his best impression of Rodgers by hitting Adams in stride down the left sideline for a 48-yard completion. The Packers’ No. 1 receiver had a step on new Titans cornerback Malcolm Butler before getting pushed out at the 3, setting up Williams’ score two plays later.
“I thought he had a couple drives, obviously the big play, and that’s what this game is all about,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “You’ve got to hit your big plays.”
Hundley also threw an interception. But It was a promising outing overall for him after the Packers struggled to move the ball through the air when Hundley was under center while Rodgers was sidelined with a broken collarbone in 2017.
“I think for me this year, the anticipation, it’s the understanding, it’s the game slowing down, so things are a lot easier,” Hundley said.
KIZER’S NIGHT
Hundley, who is competing with DeShone Kizer for the backup job, got the start and played well into the second quarter. Kizer went 9 of 18 for 134 yards, hitting rookie Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a 51-yard gain to the Titans 11 in the third quarter.
TITANS SECONDARY
Veteran Kenny Vaccaro started alongside All-Pro Kevin Byard at safety and had one tackle after playing into the second quarter. Formerly of the Saints, Vaccaro signed on Saturday after the Titans lost starter Johnathan Cyprien last week to a torn left ACL.
“He’s come in and really focused on learning his job, becoming a good teammate, practicing hard,” Vrabel said about Vaccaro.
QUOTABLE
“Really what we wanted to accomplish as a football team was establish our play style, and secondly was just try to create as many opportunities as we possibly could for our players.” - McCarthy.
INJURIES
Titans: WR Corey Davis dressed and warmed up but did not play. The Titans’ top wideout did not practice Monday or Tuesday after leaving practice early Saturday. … S Dane Cruikshank (left shoulder) walked off after landing hard on the turf while trying to recover Quentin Rollins’ fumble on a punt return.
Packers: S Jermaine Whitehead (back) left in the second quarter. S Josh Jones walked back to the locker room in the third quarter to be evaluated for a concussion. … WR Randall Cobb (ankle) and DL Mike Daniels (quad) were among 18 Packers who did not dress.
NATIONAL ANTHEM
There were no apparent displays of protest by players on either team during the national anthem.
UP NEXT
Titans: Host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Aug. 18.
Packers: Host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Aug. 16.
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