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.
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.
The Jags have become the new Browns!
No they haven’t become that bad…yet. I mean when was the last time the Browns had the same starting QB in back-to-back seasons?
Legends tell of the last time that happened, but the names “Kosar,” “Couch,” and “Graham” are now thought by scholars to be more myth than fact.
You had a nice game too don’t forget that point
And I thought that keeping a job after consistently underperforming was only true for government employees …
Nice!
Earned is a strong word
This is the right move for now. Henne is absolutely terrible and would not even be a better game manager than Bortles. Give Bortles at least the first half of the season to prove himself and hope he doesn’t get injured. If he struggles and the team starts losing games, then bench him and try Henne and Allen to finish out the season. Bortles went the previous two offseason/preseasons as the starter, its unlikely but maybe losing his starting job for a week will get him to play better.
Bottles has been sacked 140 times in a 3 year
Career. If they could protect him he would be
Good but at this rate he could become the second coming of David Carr, beaten
To a pulp! The jags OL is not that good.
Another long season!!!