Blake Bortles named Jaguars starting quarterback

The Jacksonville Jaguars have named rookie quarterback Blake Bortles the starting quarterback, deciding to bench veteran Chad Henne and roll with the rookie.

Jaguars HC Gus Bradley announced QB Blake Bortles will start next week.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 21, 2014

On Sunday against Jacksonville Bortles completed 14-of-24 passes for 223 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.

While the team maintained prior to the draft they would prefer whatever quarterback they drafted to sit and learn until they were ready to play, but the rate at which Bortles progressed and the ineffectiveness of Henne has forced the team's hand.

Bortles started the offseason in OTAs a little rough, like most expected, and the team decided to completely rebuild his throwing mechanics starting with his footwork. Bortles progressed fairly quickly entering training camp, shining for the first time in the Jaguars preseason scrimmage.

Bortles progress continued in the preseason game by shining in the first two games of the preseason, but it really began to be hammered home in the third preseason game against the Detroit Lions. Bortles came into the game in the final two minutes of the first half and lead a drive down the field for a field goal, but on the single drive out gained Chad Henne through the first quarter and a half.

The Jaguars lost 34-17 in Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles, a game in which they lead 17-0 at halftime, but surrendered 34 unanswered points when the offense failed to but together anything close to a scoring drive in the second half and looked listless overall in ther 41-10 loss to Washington in Week 2.