The Sports Xchange

Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota has been ruled out for Sunday’s home game against the Atlanta Falcons due to a sprained left knee.

Head coach Ken Whisenhunt declared Mariota out on Friday after the rookie missed his third day of practice this week for the 1-4 Titans, who have lost four games in a row and eight consecutive at home.

“He’s frustrated because he wants to play,” Whisenhunt said of Mariota. “We want to get him on the field as soon as possible. It just won’t be this week.”

Backup Zach Mettenberger will be starting in place of Mariota, who sustained the injury in the first half of the Titans’ 38-10 loss to Miami last Sunday when Dolphins defensive end Olivier Vernon hit his knee.

The NFL confirmed that Vernon was fined $37,363 for two roughing-the-passer infractions. The NFL fined Vernon $17,363 for striking Mariota in the knee area in the second quarter and $20,000 for striking Mariota in the head and neck area in the third quarter.

Mettenberger, a 2014 sixth-round draft pick from LSU, started six games — all loses — for the Titans last season .

“I think there is a good confidence level in Zach,” Whisenhunt said. “He had a really good preseason. He’s been around the guys, there’s a good energy in that room with the quarterbacks. It’s a good feeling with those guys. So they all support each other, and we feel good. We’re confident in Zach and he’s worked really hard physically.”