Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Mularkey ruled running back DeMarco Murray out on Wednesday for Saturday's divisional playoff game at New England.

Derrick Henry, who rushed for 156 yards to help the Titans upset the Kansas City Chiefs last week, will start against the Patriots.

Murray was injured Week 16 and the grade-three sprain of his medial collateral ligament in his right knee caused him to miss the playoff opener in addition to the regular-season finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Mularkey played coy, or infinitely optimistic on Monday, refusing to rule Murray out after learning he was running on a treadmill.

"So I'd say he's day-to-day right now and I just hope for the best. Maybe in a limited role. We don't know yet," Mularkey said at the time.

Even though he's ruled out this week, Murray remained on the 53-man active roster, a signal that the Titans don't expect him to require a full six weeks -- typical recovery time for a torn MCL -- to return to the field at some point this postseason.

Murray rushed for a career-low 659 yards and six touchdowns on 184 carries during the regular season, plus 39 catches for 266 yards and a score. He started the first 15 games of the 2017 season. –reuters