The back tightness that has kept Jaguars quarerback David Garrard sidelined for a few days is not expected to be a major problem. It will, however, keep him out of Saturday night’s team scrimmage.
“I’m pretty sure everybody wants to see 11 anyway,” Garrard told Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union, referring to rookie Blaine Gabbert. “But I’m feeling good, I’m feeling optimistic about things.”
Coach Jack Del Rio had said Thursday that he would be surprised if Garrard sat out the scrimmage. Garrard’s absence will put a bigger spotlight on Gabbert, who has reportedly looked good thus far in camp.
“What I saw on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice field Thursday night from Gabbert, the team’s top pick in the April draft, is like nothing I’ve witnessed on any of the Jaguars’ practice fields in the 16 years they’ve been in existence,” Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com writes.
He sees a rookie that he believes is ahead of the curve and has a better chance to start than people think.
“He looked like a franchise quarterback. If he plays like one in the preseason, there is little doubt that Del Rio would hesitate to pull the trigger and make him the starter,” Prisco says.
That makes Saturday night’s scrimmage and Jacksonville’s upcoming preseason games a lot more interesting.