Jaguars coach Gus Bradley: Blake Bortles will get first team reps eventually
By Jack Crosby
The Jacksonville Jaguars opened up their 2014 preseason this past weekend by defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 16-10. In the game, rookie quarterback Blake Bortles took advantage of his debut, turning in what many considered the best performance of all the rookies of the 2014 draft class, throwing for 117 yards on 7-of-11 passing.
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Of course, after such a showing, there were people that wondered whether or not Bortles should be given the opportunity to take some first team reps from starter Chad Henne.
And apparently, the one whose opinion holds the most weight in the end, might be in agreement, and we could see Bortles taking snaps with the first team sooner rather than later.
#Jaguars coach Gus Bradley, on if Bortles’ll get 1st-team reps eventually: “For me to say he’s not going to would probably be inaccurate.”
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 12, 2014
The only thing that could be holding Bradley back from giving him a fair shot at the starting job might be protecting his young quarterback.
Given some injuries one the offensive side of the ball, putting Bortles out there too early without the proper help could damage him for good down the road.
If his debut performance was any indication, then the Jaguars could have someone special on their hands for the future.