Jim Wyatt

jwyatt@tennessean.com

Zach Mettenberger offered up a smile on Tuesday, but it wasn't for a "selfie."

The Titans rookie quarterback admitted he found humor in Texans defensive lineman J.J. Watt calling him out about his social media pictures leading up to Sunday's game.

"I just kind of laughed it off,'' Mettenberger said. "What can I say? The guy is the best defensive player in the NFL, there is nothing I can say to him. So I just need to keep progressing, keep working and we'll play them again."

Following Houston's 30-16 win over the Titans, Watt criticized Mettenberger for not taking a more serious approach to his first NFL start. Watt said it bothered him to see Mettenberger taking pictures of himself and posting them on social media during the week.

Mettenberger took another "selfie" in the locker room before the game. After one of his two sacks on Sunday, Watt imitated Mettenberger by pretending to take a photo of himself.

Titans tackle Taylor Lewan thought it was a clever move by the two-time All-Pro.

"I think it is hilarious,'' Lewan said. "I am not going to sit here and say, "(Dang) you, J.J." I thought it was funny, it was well thought out. I am into that kind of comedy. I like well thought out funnies. The thing I don't like is (Zach) being sacked. We can't have that. …. Hopefully the next time we play them we won't put him in a position to have more selfie pictures.

"But no one is calling for blood after a fake selfie."

Mettenberger, who completed 27-of-41 passes for 299 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, didn't agree with Watt's suggestion that he's not taking his job seriously, however.

"He's entitled to his opinion, he is a great player and all that,'' Mettenberger said of Watt. "But I know how hard I work, and I know what I am doing here each and every day. And that's something that I can't be concerned about. If social media ever becomes a distraction for me, I just need to give it up. It never has been a distraction.

"If guys in this locker room feel it's a distraction on my part, I'll tone it back. But I don't think that's a problem."



