Marcus Mariota is off to a rocky start in Philadelphia.
The veteran quarterback, 29, struggled Thursday in his second straight preseason game for the Eagles — and the Philadelphia crowd let him have it.
Mariota, who signed a one-year deal this offseason to serve as a backup to starting quarterback Jalen Hurts, completed nine of 17 passes for 86 yards and an interception in an eventual 18-18 tie against the Browns.
He was also sacked three times in the first half.
Eagles fans booed Mariota when he overthrew a pass intended for tight end Grant Calcaterra and was intercepted by Browns safety Ronnie Hickman in the first quarter, according to ESPN.
Through two preseason appearances, Mariota is 16 for 28 for 143 yards, an interception and four sacks.
Marcus Mariota #8 of the Philadelphia Eagles throws a pass during Training Camp at Lincoln Financial Field on August 9, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Getty ImagesThe former first-round pick wasn’t satisfied with his performance on Thursday.
“I was sloppy,” Mariota said after the game. “I can do a better job of getting our guys operating cleaner and more efficiently. But that is what preseason is for.”
Mariota, who was profiled in the Netflix docuseries “Quarterback,” added, “I’m learning as I go, good, bad or indifferent… I’ll take it on the chin and just learn.”
Mariota has rushed for 2,012 yards and 17 touchdowns in his career and has 54 interceptions across 87 career games.
Marcus Mariota #8 of the Philadelphia Eagles passes the ball against the Cleveland Browns during the preseason game at Lincoln Financial Field on August 17, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Getty ImagesThe quarterback previously played for the Titans, Raiders and most recently, the Falcons.
Mariota was outplayed by the Eagles’ rookie sixth-round pick, Tanner McKee, in the second half.
McKee, a 23-year-old Stanford product, went 10 for 18 for 147 yards with a touchdown.
Hurts, who signed a five-year deal with $179.3 million guaranteed in the offseason after leading the Eagles to the Super Bowl in February, was on the sideline in street clothes.
NFL Twitter turned on Mariota after his second preseason outing fell flat, with some begging the Eagles to bring back their 2018 Super Bowl MVP quarterback, Nick Foles — who is a free agent.
Eagles quarterback Tanne McKee during a preseason game against the Browns on Aug. 17, 2023. Getty ImagesFoles became a Philadelphia legend when he led the Eagles to a 41-33 victory over the Patriots in Super Bowl 52.
“Time to cut Marisucka and sign The Patron Saint of Philadelphia, Nick Foles!” one person tweeted. “Do the right thing @eagles.”
Some said Foles would be a great mentor to McKee and that they have similar tendencies.
“The big story is that the Eagles should sign Nick Foles,” radio host Joe DeCamara said on his 94WIP Morning Show on Friday.
Quarterback Nick Foles of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates following victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on February 4, 2018. AFP via Getty ImagesThe show even conducted a Twitter poll that asked: “Do you want the Eagles to sign Nick Foles?”
Foles started two games with the Colts last season, throwing four interceptions and zero touchdowns in the losses.
The Eagles host the Colts in the preseason finale on Aug. 24.
