Geoff JohnsonThe Jacksonville Jaguars announced this Monday that Blaine Gabbert will be the starting quarterback for the team in the regular season, but that he won’t play for the rest of the preseason because he has a hairline fracture in his right thumb.
The Jaguars are 3.5 point underdogs as a home team for week one against the Kansas City Chiefs.
“Normally a break would require surgery or six to eight weeks, ” Head Coach Gus Bradley said. “It’s not the same with this injury. They feel like in two weeks, he should have a chance to come back and begin his prep for Kansas City.”
Gabbert was going head to head with Chad Henne, but ultimately he won’t the contest over the first two preseason games.
“It’s a nice opportunity, but it doesn’t end here”, Gabbert said. “Gus always preaches competition every day, and we compete against each other, but we’re still going to go out there and put your best foot forward regardless of the situation.”
“From my standpoint, it’s disappointing”, Henne said. “But I’m going to be the same person. I’m going to keep competing each and every day, try to better myself. I’m behind this team 100 percent. I’m behind Blaine. Whatever I can do to help is what I’m going to do.”
The Jaguars have the worst odds of any of the 32 teams in the NFL to be at New York playing in the Super Bowl. They are 150/1 to win the Lombardi trophy at MetLife Stadium on February 2nd.
