The Jaguars have switched starting quarterbacks.
Blake Bortles has been named the team’s starter, head coach Gus Bradley said after Jacksonville’s 44-17 loss to Indianapolis on Sunday, according to the Jaguars’ official Twitter feed.
Bortles relieved Henne at halftime and showed promise in his first NFL regular season action, completing 14-of-24 passes for 223 yards with a pair of touchdowns. He also rushed twice for 30 yards. Moreover, Bortles was sacked just once, and he handled pass rush pressure quite well. On the other side of the ledger, Bortles was intercepted twice, with one pick returned for a score.
Nevertheless, the Jaguars’ offense showed life with Bortles, who wasn’t at all overmatched. These factors made it an easy call for the Jaguars, now 0-3, to make the switch.
While the Jaguars made a major long-term decision Sunday, the Colts (1-2) regained their footing in the short term, racking up 529 yards against Jacksonville’s porous defense. Quarterback Andrew Luck was outstanding, completing 31-of-39 passes for 370 yards and four touchdowns.
With the Texans’ loss to the Giants, Indianapolis moved within one game of the AFC South lead. The Colts host the struggling Titans next Sunday.