Titans use trick play to score with Marcus Mariota out

Marcus Mariota doesn’t need to be in the game for the Tennessee Titans to throw touchdown passes.

Blaine Gabbert got the start for Tennessee Sunday against the Houston Texans with Mariota suffering from a pinched nerve in his elbow. But the Titans’ first touchdown was created not by Gabbert, but by safety Kevin Byard on this trick play from the punt formation:

Titans Get Tricky 🤙🏽 #TitanUp pic.twitter.com/93G9c4v4Qv

— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) September 16, 2018

The left-handed Byard took the direct snap and hit Dane Cruikshank down the right sideline for a 66-yard score five minutes into the game.

In fact, there were three Titans to throw at least one pass in the first half of that game. Running back Derrick Henry took a series of direct snaps instead of having Gabbert control the offense. Henry mostly ran with the ball, but also completed an 8-yard pass to Taywan Taylor.