According to the Associated Press, Jags head coach Jack Del Rio on Wednesday anointed Blaine Gabbert as the team’s starting quarterback for their Week 3 matchup against the Panthers.
Del Rio made the switch after witnessing a horrific game by Luke McCown, who threw four interceptions and finished with a 1.8 passer rating in a blowout loss to the Jets.
Gabbert, the draft’s No. 10 overall pick, entered the game in mop up duty, finishing 5 of 6 for 52 yards. During the preseason, when he received extending playing time, Gabbert completed 35 of 70 passes for 365 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
Despite getting the nod, Gabbert won’t have much to work on offense, and will likely spend much of the afternoon handing the ball off to running back Maurice Jones-Drew.
As Jacksonville’s hopeful franchise option, Gabbert was going to eventually get his shot, though it’s come earlier than expected due to McCown’s ineptness under center. Considering their lack of an alternative, Gabbert is likely to remain the Jags’ starter going forward — even if he falls flat on his face, as most first-year players do.
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