Former Heisman winner at Oregon, Marcus Mariota was benched earlier this season for Titans' current starter Ryan Tannehill but Mariota won't let his benching define him. With the Titans set to take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship this weekend, Mariota is once again playing the scout team role of the opposing quarterback, this time reigning NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes.

Mariota has had to emulate the games of DeShaun Watson, Tom Brady, and Lamar Jackson in recent weeks to prepare the Titans and Mariota is putting his team first.

“I take every single day and I try to make the most of it." Mariota told local Tennessee media on Wednesday. "We have a great defense, and for me, it’s an opportunity to get better. Anyway I can help this team and try to mimic or emulate what these guys are during the game, I’m going to do it. I’m just going to try to help our guys out.”

Though he's not seeing the field as often as he would like, Mariota is making the most of the opportunity to assist his team.

"Every single time, every single moment that you’re on the field I never take it for granted," said Mariota

Ahead of last Saturday's clash, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Mariota gave the Titans a leg up on preparing for Jackson with his scout team effort.

"From what I understand, he played Lamar Jackson in practice this week on the scout team and really invested in it. Gave them a fantastic look, this team feels incredibly prepared in part because of what Marcus Mariota did mimicking Lamar Jackson," said Rapoport.

Mariota was used on one play in the Titan's upset of the Ravens in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, as a decoy on a direct snap to running back Derrick Henry. The Titans scored on the play with Henry throwing a jump pass over the middle with Mariota lined up on the outside.

Titans coach Mike Vrabel appreciates what Mariota has done in the backup role.

"He helped us prepare last week. I know that he’ll do the same thing this week. He’s been very supportive of Ryan, so we’ll keep finding ways for him to help us during the games,” Vrabel said on Wednesday.

The Titans decided to bench Mariota on October 15th in favor of backup Ryan Tannehill. In the 2019 regular season, Mariota finished with a record 2-4 in six games started. He completed 95 of 160 passes (59.4 percent) for 1,203 yards and seven touchdowns to two interceptions.

The Titans used Mariota on one play during week 17 of the NFL season, a 24-yard completion to receiver A.J. Brown with Tannehill lined up at wide receiver. Mariota was used again in the Titan's wildcard round win over the Patriots, with a 4-yard completion.

The NFL trade deadline came and went without Mariota being traded amid speculation of the Titans to potentially recoup some value from their No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. If Mariota does leave the Titans as a free agent, the Titans will receive a compensatory pick, potentially around the 4th through 6th round per one Titans' beat reporters calculations.