Blake Bortles Remains Starting QB Despite Benching, on 'Short Leash' for Jacksonville Jaguars

Blake Bortles will remain the Jacksonville Jaguars' starting quarterback despite being benched during Sunday's 20-7 loss to the Houston Texans.

Jaguars coach Doug Marrone confirmed that Bortles would be starting for the team's game against the Philadelphia Eagles in London during a press conference Monday evening.

However, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Bortles will be on "a short leash" during Sunday's game and backup Cody Kessler will take reps with the first-team offense in practice this week.

"I spoke to both quarterbacks this afternoon and told them that Blake will be our team's starting quarterback," Marrone said in a statement. "I believe this gives us the best opportunity to win."

Bortles has excelled in London games during each of the last three seasons with a 3-0 record, eight touchdowns, one interception and a 36.0 points per game average, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

Bortles was benched early in the third quarter of Sunday's loss following his second lost fumble of the game. During his postgame press conference, Marrone announced that the starting quarterback role was open.

However, after re-watching game film several times Sunday night and Monday morning, the coach said he came to the resolution that he was sticking with Bortles during the afternoon, but didn't want to announce it officially until he told his team.

Bortles was announced as the starter for Sunday's game about 90 minutes later.

Marrone also confirmed that Monday's decision wasn't long-term and Bortles has the job until it's clear that his performance is preventing the team from winning games. The coach also said that he doesn't intend to split first-team reps and Bortles would be taking every snap with the starters on Wednesday, despite Schefter's report.

"I think once you put a person out there no matter what position, quarterback or anything, you're trusting in that confidence that that player is going to get it done," Marrone said. "Then I think it's a matter of performance and basically what the situations call for at the time. So I think it's hard to go head and say short [term], long [term], whatever it may be.

"Whatever decision comes forward with who's playing at any position, then obviously that player will be working on Wednesday taking the starting snaps. I don't believe in splitting reps. The only time I believe in that is when injuries come involved. I think that it's very difficult to ask for the full potential and the accountability when you're splitting things. It's too tough in this league to do that."

Bortles finished Sunday's game with 61 yards on 6 of 12 passing before being benched. Marrone said he made the switch because of the turnovers and wanted to get a spark out of his roster.

Jacksonville (3-4) currently ranks last among NFL teams in turnover ratio (-12) after leading in the category during the 2017 season. Bortles has recorded 11 turnovers in seven games, although his coach doesn't believe all of them were his fault.

"It's a No. 1 priority [to take care of the ball]," Marrone said. "We are not even giving ourselves a chance right now."

Bortles, who was selected No. 3 overall by the Jaguars in the 2014 NFL Draft, had previously been benched during the first two games of the 2017 preseason after throwing five interceptions in training camp.

He eventually beat out backup Chad Henne during Jacksonville's final two preseason games and went on to have a career season that included throwing for 21 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

Bortles signed a three-year, $54 million contract extension that included $26.5 million guaranteed, as well as a $21 million cap hit and a dead-money figure of $16.5 million in 2019 this past offseason.