Watson hopeful for better results as Texans visit Titans

Deshaun Watson's season debut was below his standard, and the second-year pro said his energy was low.

Deshaun Watson's season debut was below his standard, and the second-year pro said his energy was low.

The Houston Texans quarterback might perk up a bit at the sight of the Tennessee Titans.

Watson threw for 283 yards and four touchdowns and helped Houston roll up 57 points in his lone career contest against the Titans. He looks to bounce back from his shaky Week 1 showing when the Texans (0-1) visit Tennessee in an AFC South matchup on Sunday.

Watson was off his game as he connected on just 17 of 34 passes for 176 yards, one touchdown and one interception in a 27-20 loss to the New England Patriots. The regular-season game was his first since tearing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee last November.

Rust aside, it wasn't the type of performance Watson envisioned. But now his focus is on bouncing back in a big way.

"It was a game that we can learn from it and move on and focus on Tennessee this week," Watson said on a conference call. "That's the beauty of this game. If you can come out healthy and be able to prepare for the next week, you have another opportunity, new improvements to be able to correct the mistakes that you made the week before and just move forward and try to get a win."

The Titans (0-1) are encouraged by the way quarterback Marcus Mariota threw the ball in Wednesday's practice, three days after injuring his passing elbow during Sunday's 27-20 loss to the Miami Dolphins.

"I am feeling pretty good," Mariota said after Wednesday's practice while sharing that he was still feeling some tingling sensations. "I am kind of taking it one day at a time, but I was able to go through practice today and felt pretty good."

Mariota was just 9-of-16 passing for 103 yards and two interceptions against the Dolphins and eventually gave way to Blaine Gabbert (11 of 22, 117 yards, one interception).

Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel is looking for his first career victory against the organization in which he spent the past four seasons, including serving as defensive coordinator last season. He also will see close friend and Texans coach Bill O'Brien on the other sideline.

"It's not just another game. It's a divisional game, but I have a lot of history with the players there and the coaches there," Vrabel said on a conference call. "I think that I tried to put a lot into what I did with the Texans. I think you make relationships, but other than that, once the game starts, I think it's just going to be football.

"Having coached those guys, I just think that it's unique, and having worked with those coaches every day, I think it's unique that this is happening early on."

O'Brien's scouting report on Vrabel was short and simple.

"Smart guy, leader, very hard worker, played in the league for a long time, knows the game," O'Brien said on a conference call. "He's got all the qualities of a head coach."

Both teams lost key players in their openers.

Titans tight end Delanie Walker suffered a season-ending broken ankle in the loss to the Dolphins, while left tackle Taylor Lewan was concussed and will miss Sunday's game. Right tackle Jack Conklin, who is still recovering from tearing his ACL in January, is also out against the Texans, while replacement Dennis Kelly is questionable after missing Thursday and Friday's practices with an illness. Kelly is reportedly in the hospital battling a virus.

Houston placed cornerback Kevin Johnson (concussion) and offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson (season-ending broken ankle) on injured reserve. The Texans have a host of others listed as questionable, including wideouts DeAndre Hopkins (foot) and Will Fuller (hamstring), and defensive end/outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (back/elbow).

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)