Titans choose to start Tannehill against Chargers
Tennessee will start Ryan Tannehill instead of Marcus Mariota on Sunday against the Chargers, according to reports, after benching the fifth-year quarterback last weekend.
Coach Mike Vrabel benched Mariota in the third quarter of a 16-0 loss in Denver, the first time the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 draft had been pulled for his play.
Mariota was seven for 18 for 63 yards and was intercepted twice. Tannehill was 13 for 16 for 144 yards.
The NFL admitted its officials blew a call that aided Green Bay’s comeback win over Detroit on Monday night. Lions defensive end Trey Flowers was flagged twice in the fourth quarter for illegal use of hands hands to the face. Each call came on third down, helping prolong what turned out to be Packers scoring drives as they rallied from down 22-13.
The NFL copped to an error on the second penalty, which gave Green Bay a first down at the Lions 11 with 1:36 left to set up Mason Crosby’s winning field goal.
“After you review it, the [second] foul wasn’t there,” NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent told reporters at the league’s fall meeting in Florida, according to Newsday’s Bob Glauber.
Pittsburgh defensive end Stephon Tuitt’s season is over after suffering a torn pectoral muscle in Sunday’s win over the Chargers. Tuitt had 31⁄2 sacks and six tackles for loss . ... New Orleans defensive back P.J. Williams was suspended two games for a violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Williams pleaded guilty in August to reckless operation of a vehicle. He has seven combined tackles and has broken up two passes . ... Chicago put Pro Bowl defensive tackle Akiem Hicks on injured reserve . ... New England suspended Michael Bennett for a week for detrimental conduct, the defensive end told ESPN. The Patriots also re-signed tight end Ben Watson and released quarterback Cody Kessler . ... The New York Jets signed ex-Rams defensive back Blake Countess.
The NFL announced the number of concussions in exhibitions this year rose to 49 from 34 in 2018, an increase of 44% and the highest since 2015. But concussions in preseason practices fell to 30 from 45, and as a result the total of 79 preseason concussions in practice and games remained the same.
Luis Perez, a former member of the Rams’ practice squad, was announced as the first member, and likely starting quarterback, of the XFL’s L.A. Wildcats. Former Chargers quarterback Cardale Jones will join the D.C. Defenders.
Louisville announced quarterback Jawon Pass will miss the rest of this season after having toe surgery. goal also is to increase safety by preventing large weight disparities between fighters.
Former major league pitcher Curt Schilling told a Phoenix sports radio station he’s decided not to run for Congress . ... President Trump honored the Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues at the White House.
North Korea held South Korea to a 0-0 draw in a World Cup qualifying match played in an empty stadium in Pyongyang. South Korean officials were unable to watch a telecast of the first competitive game between the teams in the North Korean capital, and South Korean spectators and media were denied entry . ... A historic match between the Palestinian and Saudi teams ended in a 0-0 draw. The World Cup qualifier marked the first time the Saudi side played in the West Bank.