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Marz has a memorable debut for Tennessee

Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Titans In this preseason football photo, Tyler Marz (second from the left) lines up against the Green Bay Packer. Marz was promoted to the Titans’ 53-man roster on Saturday and made his first career NFL start on Sunday against the Houston Texans.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tyler Marz knew that even as a member of the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad for three years, it’s always best to prepare as if he were starting for the Titans.

On Saturday, Marz was promoted from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. And with the Titans’ offensive line battling injuries and illness, Marz got the start against one of the NFL’s best — J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans.

Marz, a 2011 Springfield High School graduate, started at right tackle and held his own. He didn’t allow a sack against Watt, who has 76 career sacks in eight NFL seasons.

He prepared all week because of injuries to the team on the line but didn’t know he’d be starting until Sunday morning.

“I got the official call on Saturday, I kind of had an idea because of the injuries we have,” Marz said. “I knew that something had to be done, but it wasn’t official until [Saturday]. I told a lot of people that when you’re on the practice squad, you still have to prepare like you’re going to be playing a game or there, just because stuff like this can happen and you never know when you’re going to get your chance. Just take pride in doing that and it obviously paid off, because I was ready to go and I knew the game plan.”

Marz was called up after tackles Jack Conklin and Taylor Lewan were ruled out because of injury for Sunday’s game. Dennis Kelly, another tackle, spent the weekend in the hospital because of illness and Marz was next in line.

Marz got a taste of the NFL experience last year after the Los Angeles Chargers selected him off the Titans’ practice squad in 2017, but Marz didn’t see any NFL action and he returned to the Titans.

“That’s just how this league is, I experienced this last year out in L.A. where one day you’re on a team and the next day you’re somewhere else and you’re cut,” Marz said. “You just have to roll with the punches in this league in general and not get too high or get too low.”

He was originally signed by the Titans as an undrafted free agent following the 2016 NFL Draft. He was a three-year starter at the University of Wisconsin and he played his high school football at Springfield under then coach Paul Dunn.

While he knew the game plan against the Texans, it’s tough to simulate going up against Watt. Even though the NFL can be a day-by-day battle, Marz was happy with how things turned out on Sunday. He didn’t allow a sack and he was able to get some good game footage out there for NFL teams in case he doesn’t stay once the Titans’ starters come back.

“I think things went well, definitely could’ve been better in certain plays,” Marz said. “The game is not ever going to be perfect, but I was happy with the way I played. I can watch the film and get better and continue to improve from there. It was a good start for me and hopefully I can get more opportunities.”

A standout at Wisconsin, Marz has played in several big collegiate games. The third-year player for the Titans said he was well-prepared for his NFL debut and nerves didn’t get to him.

“Honestly I was not nervous, but I was thinking to myself, ‘was this going to be a step quicker than preseason was?'”

The best part of his day was that his team came away with a 20-17 victory over the Texans.

“Everyone was just happy for me the way I played, I didn’t give up a sack so that was a good start,” he said. “Obviously, coming away the win, it’s a great day when you’re winning games. Everyone is excited and happy for me and proud of the way I stepped up and played, I just expected that out of myself and held myself to a high standard.”

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