MARCUS MARIOTA

The Pittsburgh Steelers are facing an eventful offseason following a second straight first-round playoff exit.

The Las Vegas Raiders placed backup quarterback Marcus Mariota on injured reserve Saturday after he hurt his quadriceps on his only snap in the season opener. Mariota came on for one play in the first quarter for the Raiders in Monday night's 33-27 overtime win over the Baltimore Ravens. Mariota has struggled to stay healthy since signing with the Raiders last season to back up Derek Carr after getting paid more than $12.6 million in 2020-21.

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“I’m not going to say anything other than I’m optimistic, but I’m not a mind reader,” coach Jon Gruden said Thursday. “I just know he had an injury that caused him to miss the game last week and I’m respectful of that. If for some reason Carr can’t play, Marcus Mariota is in position to make his first start for the Raiders. S Erik Harris and DB Daryl Worley also are on the COVID-19 list. ... WR Henry Ruggs III returned to practice from the COVID-19 list and Gruden is hopeful he will play.

MIAMI (9-5) at LAS VEGAS (7-7)Saturday, 8:15 p.m. SPREAD - Dolphins 11-3; Raiders 7-7SERIES RECORD - Raiders lead 20-18-1LAST MEETING - Dolphins won at home vs. Raiders 28-20, Sept. 23, 2018LAST WEEK - Dolphins beat Patriots 22-12; Raiders lost to Chargers 30-27, OTAP PRO32 RANKING - Dolphins No. ... Las Vegas has allowed eight TDs on opponents' last 17 possessions that didn’t include a kneel-down. ... Fantasy tip: Las Vegas Pro Bowl TE Darren Waller has had at least 150 yards receiving in two of the past three weeks.

(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)The Pittsburgh Steelers have gone from dreams of matching the perfect 1972 Miami Dolphins to searching for another win. After winning their first 11 games for the first time in franchise history, the Steelers were upset at home two weeks ago against Washington. The last team to start 11-0 and then lose three straight was the 1969 Rams in a 14-game season. The losing skid carried over to the playoffs with a 23-20 loss to Minnesota, a fate the Steelers would obviously like to avoid. Jackson leads the way with 828 yards rushing and seven TDs with Murray having 741 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Los Angeles Chargers tight end Hunter Henry, right, embraces quarterback Justin Herbert (10) after defeating the Las Vegas Raiders in overtime of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, in Las Vegas. Herbert scored on 1-yard plunge to give the Los Angeles Chargers a 30-27 overtime victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night. The Chargers (5-9) snapped a nine-game losing streak against their AFC West counterparts, and snapped a three-game skid against the Raiders. Las Vegas (7-7) lost quarterback Derek Carr to a left groin injury in the first quarter. “It just shows the kind of player and football character he has,” Raiders coach Jon Gruden said of Mariota.

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) limps on the sidelines after a play against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)LAS VEGAS – Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has left the game against the Los Angeles Chargers with a groin injury. Carr came up lame on a third-down scramble near the goal line in the first quarter for the Raiders on Thursday night. He missed the final game of the 2016 season and a playoff game that that season with a broken leg and one game in 2017 with a broken bone in his back. 2 overall pick in 2015 by Tennessee, took over for Carr on the next drive for the Raiders.

(AP Photo/John Froschauer)Denver Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay has cleared concussion protocol and will play against the Los Angeles Chargers. Bears: WR Ted Ginn Jr., DB Duke Shelley, RB Artavis Pierce, OL Cody Whitehair, WR Riley Ridley, LB Trevis Gipson. Seahawks: RB Chris Carson, RB Carlos Hyde, DE Benson Mayowa, CB Ugo Amadi, SS Jamal Adams, CB Shaquill Griffin. ___LOS ANGELES RAMS AT MIAMIRams: RB Raymond Calais, OL Brian Allen, WR Trishton Jackson, TE Brycen Hopkins, DL A’Shawn Robinson. Dolphins: RB/WR Lynn Bowden Jr., RB Salvon Ahmed, FB Chandler Cox, CB Jamal Perry, RB Jordan Howard, DE Jason Strowbridge.

Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden said several of his players made a mistake when they didn’t wear masks or practice social distancing during a charity event that violated league and local COVID-19 rules. Players were seen on video without masks during the indoor event while talking and mingling with guests, who also weren’t wearing masks. “We’ve done a good job, done an excellent job,” Gruden said Wednesday. The Raiders opened the 21-day practice window for QB Marcus Mariota, who was placed on IR with a pectoral injury. QB DeShone Kizer was released from the practice squad and WR De’Mornay Pierson-El was signed to the practice squad.

This is the Titans' first 2-0 start since 2008, the most recent season this franchise won the AFC South. His final TD pass, a 14-yarder to Chris Thompson, tied it up at 30 with 7:25 left as the Jaguars (1-1) tried to snap their Music City skid. So the Titans turned to Tannehill, the quarterback who led the NFL in 2019 with a 117.5 passer rating. Tannehill opened the game finding a wide-open Jonnu Smith for 63 yards before hitting Smith for a 13-yard TD two plays later. Tannehill added a 9-yard TD pass to Corey Davis on the next drive and threw a 4-yarder to Smith late in the first half.

The Titans traded Casey to Denver this offseason in a salary dump, clearing $11 million in cap space by sending the five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman to Denver for a seventh-round draft choice. Even with Casey on his side last year, Henry was stifled in a 16-0 loss at Denver, gaining just 28 yards on 15 carries. That was easily the low point in a season in which Henry ran for an NFL-best 1,540 yards. “Having a player of his caliber and his leadership not be out there with us is definitely going to be a blow to the team," Casey said. “He’s a game wrecker,” Henry said.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) passes against the New Orleans Saints in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)

8 pick in the 2012 draft has gone from being traded in March to preparing for his postseason debut with his second NFL team, the Tennessee Titans, after eight seasons and 100 games played. “He's a guy that's been doing it for a long, long time at a very high level,” Tannehill said. “I mean, the offense works well together with their strong running game and play-action passes, and he’s hit them. Really impressive offense and their system, very impressive.”Now comes the biggest test of Tannehill's career. He is 4-7 against New England and beat the Patriots in just his second season in the NFL in 2013.

Associated PressJACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Gardner Minshew threw two touchdown passes and should have had a third, Calais Campbell spearheaded another defensive gem and the Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Tennessee Titans 20-7 in sloppy conditions Thursday night. Suspended Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan later added, "Wow, who would have thought that the refs would mess up so many calls?" ... Titans linebacker Sharif Finch injured his right ankle in the third. UP NEXTThe Titans play at Atlanta. The Jaguars play at Denver.