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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew II has already set several NFL rookie records, as well as Jacksonville franchise records, but he just continues to add to his accolades as the season continues on.
Following a close, seven-point loss to the Carolina Panthers on the road this past Sunday, Minshew has now done something through his first five NFL games that no NFL quarterback has ever accomplished:
QB @GardnerMinshew5 completed 26 of 44 passes for 374 yards & two TDs for a passer rating of 101.9.
— Tad Dickman (@TDickman89) October 6, 2019
Minshew is now the first player in NFL history to throw for at least 200 passing yards with a passer rating of at least 95.0 in each of his first five career games.@Jaguars
MInshew, who was recently named Offensive Rookie of the Month after winning Offensive Rookie of the Week three times in September, is one of only three rookies in franchise history to throw for 300 or more yards in a game...
QB @GardnerMinshew5 now joins Byron Leftwich (Oct. 5, 2003 -- 336) and Blake Bortles (Oct. 12, 2014 -- 336) as the only rookies in @Jaguars history to throw for at least 300 yards in a single game.
— Tad Dickman (@TDickman89) October 6, 2019
Extending his career-high for passing yards.
...and no other rookie in franchise history has thrown for more yards than Minshew did on Sunday, as he finished with a career-high 374 yards through the air. He added two touchdown passes as well.
QB @GardnerMinshew5 has now set a new @Jaguars rookie record for passing yardage in a single game (currently at 350).
— Tad Dickman (@TDickman89) October 6, 2019
The 374 yard-performance also lands Minshew in the top-10 in Jaguars history for a single game mark. For those curious, the franchise single game record for the Jaguars is 432 yards by Mark Brunell on Sept. 22, 1996 against the New England Patriots. After his impressive Week 5 outing, it makes you wonder if this long-time team record is within reach for Minshew.
Unfortunately, the Jaguars did not get the win, and Minshew was not perfect — he lost two crucial fumbles (and three total including the botched handoff), including one that was returned 56 yards by rookie Brian Burns for a Carolina score. But Minshew played very well overall, and the offensive line and defense/defensive coaching was the reason Jacksonville lost this game.
Despite the loss, this seems like a different feeling for Jags fans. Instead of feeling like this team doesn’t stand a chance on any given Sunday, there should be a lot of confidence in the quarterback position, and there is a competitiveness to this team that we haven’t seen since at least 2017.