Marcus Mariota's Injury a 'Stinger,' Per HC Mike Vrabel, Could Play vs. Texans

Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota suffered a stinger in the team's 38-10 loss against the Indianapolis Colts, head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters Monday. 

Mariota's status for a pivotal AFC South matchup next Monday against the Houston Texans remains up in the air, however:

Life without Mariota isn't pretty for the Titans. His backup, Blaine Gabbert, has appeared in four games for the Titans, throwing for 360 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He's completed just 59 percent of his passes.

Mariota, meanwhile, has thrown for 1,583 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions, completing 67.6 percent of his passes. Additionally, he's rushed 47 times for 255 yards and two scores, adding another dimension to Tennessee's offense.

In Gabbert's four appearances, the team has gone 2-2, though he only played in the first quarter of a 9-6 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in late September after suffering a concussion. Mariota, dealing with his own injury, came on in relief and led the team to the win.

In Gabbert's defense, by the time he came on in the second half of Sunday's loss, the Titans were already trailing 24-3. 

But for the 5-5 Titans, getting Mariota back healthy as quickly as possible is key. The team is currently third in the AFC East, trailing Houston by two games. With matchups against the Texans, Jaguars and Colts down the stretch, however, a division title and a second straight trip to the postseason is still a possibility.