Blaine Gabbert will start 2nd preseason game for Jaguars

In a true quarterback competition, there aren’t always definitive signs of who has the edge. However, if Gus Bradley’s action are lending any indication, he may be leaning toward choosing the incumbent as we head toward this season for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Bradley, the new head coach of the Jaguars, named former University of Missouri and 1st-round draft pick Blaine Gabbert as the starter for Saturday’s preseason game against the New York Jets. His announcement on Thursday doesn’t come as a shock, as Gabbert also started Jacksonville’s first game, but for the camp is fans/supporters that are backing Chad Henne, it isn’t pleasant news.

In 2012, Henne performed markedly better on the field than Gabbert in the passing yardage department, going for 191.5 yards per game against just over 150 yards per game for Gabbert. However, the 23-year-old Gabbert threw for a higher completion percentage (58% to 54%) with a better touchdown-to-INT ratio than the 28-year-old Henne.

It has been widely reported that the two quarterbacks are sharing equal reps in training camp, and Bradley has fallen far short of naming a real starter for the regular season. However, the team has much more invested in Gabbert at this point (i.e. a 1st-round salary), and if the two players perform even close to equally in the preseason, it would be a shock to see Bradley go with Chad Henne.

At any rate, this is something to follow closely in Jacksonville as the season approaches.