"I thought it was late and low, but that's not a decision for me to make," said Mariota, who motioned to a nearby official after absorbing the hit. "I was just trying to make him aware of it.

"I guess it's within the rules, but again, it is a referee's determination, and I was just making sure he saw it."

Mariota was intercepted on consecutive throws after returning, and the Titans made the decision to go with Gabbert the rest of the way.

Mariota said he wasn't going to make many excuses about the injury, and the throws that followed the injury, which coach Mike Vrabel described as an elbow/shoulder injury after taking a hit. Vrabel said he's being evaluated "and we'll see where he's at moving forward tomorrow."

Vrabel said he asked referee Jerome Boger about the hit, and was told it was legal since he was executing a fake.

"I should have probably thought about it hard and made sure I was making the best decision for the team," Mariota said. "Instead of making that decision later."

Mariota finished the contest 9-of-16 for 103 yards, with a 36.2 passer rating and the two interceptions. Gabbert was 11-of-22 for 117 yards, and he guided a second half drive.

Mariota said a few of his throws "got away" and the team failed to score touchdowns in the red zone, which proved costly. He blamed himself for being short on a throw to tight end Luke Stocker, which went for 31 yards, but ended short of a touchdown.

Sunday's game lasted seven hours and eight minutes, including two long weather delays. Mariota said "it was a long day."