Titans’ Marcus Mariota out with knee injury; Dolphins’ Olivier Vernon fined $37,000

Tennessee Titans rookie Marcus Mariota nearly lost his season when Miami Dolphins defensive end Olivier Vernon dove into his knee during a play last week.

Mariota will miss the Titans’ tilt with the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday because of an MCL strain in his left knee.

Zach Mettenberger will start for Mariota, who has thrown nine touchdown passes with five interceptions in five games. Mettenberger has eight touchdown passes with six passes intercepted in his six career starts.

Vernon received a $17,363 fine from the NFL for roughing the passer. He also received a $20,000 fine for hitting Mariota in the head on another play.

“That’s not the way you play football,” Titans Coach Ken Whisenhunt said after the game. “I think it was done with the idea of trying to hurt our quarterback.”

Vernon and the Dolphins both denied that was the case and even Mariota said he didn’t think it was “malicious.”

“I know one thing -- it wasn’t intentional,” Vernon said. “I’ve never been a dirty player in my whole career. ... Nobody tries to get personal fouls. I know one thing, they are expensive.”

Now he knows just how expensive, though the Titans are paying the real price for his actions.

Follow Matt Wilhalme on Twitter @mattwilhalme