Jaguars QB Blake Bortles Earns Starting Gig

It’s looking like Blake Bortles isn’t at risk of getting cut, after all. According to ESPN.com’s Michael DiRocco (via Twitter), the Jaguars have named Bortles as their starting quarterback heading into the regular season.

Chad Henne/Blake Bortles (Vertical)We heard earlier this week that the organization could consider releasing or trading the embattled quarterback if he didn’t earn the starting gig over Chad Henne. The backup ultimately started the team’s third preseason game, and coach Doug Marrone revealed that there was in fact a competition at the position.

Ultimately, the logic was financially motivated, as the Jaguars had picked up Bortles’ non-guaranteed fifth-year option for 2018. Had Bortles suffered an injury and subsequently couldn’t pass a physical, the Jaguars would be on the hook for upwards of $19MM. Cutting the player would have cost the organization $6.57MM. However, that minor financial hit may have been worth avoiding the “potentially catastrophic scenario” of having to dedicate $19MM-plus in cap space to an injured Bortles in 2018.

Bortles, the third-overall pick in the 2014 draft, took a bit of a step back in 2016 following a productive 2015 campaign. The 25-year-old did start all 16 games and completed 58.9-percent of his passes, but he only threw for 3,905 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. Bortles also has a penchant for losing the ball, as he lost a career-high six fumbles last season.

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