Gardner Minshew named starting quarterback vs. Ravens

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone named second-year quarterback Gardner Minshew the team’s starting quarterback for this week’s matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.

“I spoke to the quarterbacks today and I explained to them, all three of them [that] over the course of this year, things haven’t gone they way they want them to go, neither have I, neither has anyone and there’s a lot of pressure to get everyone else around us playing well,” Marrone said of his decision this morning.

“I think it’s going to be important for the pieces around them to play extremely well for them to have success.”

On Sunday, Minshew came in, in relief of Mike Glennon, who started and played throughout the first half and one drive into the second half before being pulled. Glennon finished with a stat line of 13/23 for 85 yards and an interception. He was pulled on the drive following his interception.

Shortly following the game, Minshew said it “felt good” to be back on the field for the first time since his Week 7 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.

“It’s something that I really missed. I miss the comradery with the guys,” he said. “I miss being out there. As much as you’re always a part of the team, it’s just something different when you’re really out there with the guys and that’s always special. I thought we got in a rhythm, it was kind of up and down, but I think we can finish drives better.”

Now, Minshew will have an opportunity to compete as a starter yet again, potentially to close out the year on a high note to his up-and-down second season in the NFL.

Against the Baltimore Ravens, who rank 10th in the NFL in yards-per-game allowed with 337.7, it will present a massive challenge as he works his way back up to the level he was at prior to his injury and subsequent benching.

Marrone says that part of the reason why Minshew is getting the nod over Glennon and Luton is due to his mobility, ability to extend plays.

# I mean we’ll see. We’re going to keep trying to do things and keep working to see whatever the combination is, whatever we have to do coaching wise. I mean we’re not going to just stalemate ourselves.”

Thus far this season Minshew has completed 194 out of 298 of his passes for 2,033 yards, 14 touchdowns and five interceptions. Yesterday in the team’s loss against the Tennessee Titans, Minshew scored the only touchdown of the game, completing it to receiver Keelan Cole.

Thus far this season, the Jaguars have deployed three starting quarterbacks, Minshew, Glennon and sixth-round rookie Jake Luton. Luton was benched for Glennon, who took over for an injured, and then healthy, Minshew.

On the year, Luton completed 60 out of 110 of his passes for 624 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions, making three starts. Glennon completed 61 out of 100 of his passes for 600 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions in three starts.