Mariota opts for hoodie over sunscreen at camp

NASHVILLE — As usual, Marcus Mariota was one of the first players to trot onto the practice field Tuesday, the 11th day of Titans training camp. As usual, he was protected from the sun as he began loosening up … because he was wearing a hoodie.

Long sleeves. Hood up. It was only 85 degrees at 9 a.m. in Nashville, going up to 96 degrees later in the day.

The Titans' fourth-year quarterback, looking to bounce back from a down season in 2017, has worn a light gray hoodie at most practices this training camp. It was no different Tuesday, the last practice before the Titans head to Green Bay for their preseason opener against the Packers on Thursday (7 p.m., WKRN-2).

“I started wearing long sleeves last season,” Mariota said. “Nike does a good job of being breathable, so it's not super hot. But today was a steamer. I did consider putting on sunscreen.”

Ultimately, though, sunscreen lost out again. “It's just slippery and messy,” he said. “I'm not a big fan.”

How hot would it have to be to ditch the hoodie?

“I don't know,” he said with a smile. “It would have to be pretty hot because today was pretty warm.”

Spoken like someone from a tropical island.

“See, I don't wear sunscreen at home,” the 24-year-old Hawaiian said. “Usually when I go home, I get a good burn the first couple of days. Then it gets to a point where my skin gets used to it again.”

Titans coach Mike Vrabel, on the other hand, is a big sunscreen guy.

“I try to, yeah,” he said. “I've been putting this gel on. I don't know if it's working. I can't find a hat. I thought about the bucket hat, but then I look ridiculous in it so. I do. I look ridiculous in it. Down in Houston with (Texans owner) Mr. (Bob) McNair, and obviously, he would always remind us, ‘Hey, make sure you put sunscreen on. It's important.’ It's something that he went through, and as you're out there every single day, just being conscious of it.”

No, you won’t see Vrabel going through practices in a hoodie like his quarterback.

“It looks nice and cool, doesn't it? I don't think I could pull it off,” Vrabel said. “(Marcus) certainly can. I don't think I can, but it looks nice on him.”

Reach Erik Bacharach at ebacharach@tennessean.com and on Twitter @ErikBacharach.