After another shaky outing from signal-caller Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone declared that the starting quarterback position will be up for grabs. According to Marrone, he’s looking for the best person to lead the Jaguars offense. “The QB position is right up there for grabs, and either person can take it,” said Marrone, adding that Bortles got to earn the starting spot.
Bortles completed eight of 13 passes for 65 yards with no touchdown or interceptions while third-string quarterback Brandon Allen went 10-for-15 for 144 yards and a score.
Chad Henne completed six of 10 passes for 44 yards for the Jaguars, who dropped to 1-1 in the preseason after a 12-6 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Blake Bortles failed to spark Jaguars offense
Bortles failed to spark the Jaguars’ offense as they went scoreless in the first half. A disappointed Marrone sent out Henne to finish the first half and start the second half before Allen took over. In two preseason outings, Bortles is 11-for-18 for 81 yards with no touchdowns and no picks while Henne completed 11 of 16 passes for 183 yards and a score. Through two preseason games, Allen was 15-for-22 for 229 yards with two touchdowns. The Jaguars have six days to evaluate their quarterback options before their third preseason outing against the Carolina Panthers.
Buccaneers' Jameis Winston shines
Jameis Winston completed 21 of 29 throws for 196 yards while backup Ryan Fitzpatrick went 6-for-9 for 47 yards and an interception as the Buccaneers (1-1) notched their first preseason win. Mike Evans caught five passes for 57 yards, Adam Humphries received five throws for 42 yards, while Doug Martin carried the ball five times for 30 yards and a score.
Martin put the Buccaneers on the board with a two-yard run that capped an 11-play, 83-yard drive by Winston. However, Nick Folk’s extra-point kick was blocked for a 6-0 lead. Folk atoned for his miss by making two field goals from 35 and 29 yards to give the Buccaneers a 12-0 lead at the half.
In the fourth, Allen sparked a five-play, 63-yard attack that he ended with a four-yard scoring throw to Marquez Williams but Jason Myers missed the extra point kick.
The Jaguars forced a safety late in the fourth for the final tally. Folk made two of three field goals since he became the Buccaneers starting kicker. He assumed the position after second-year kicker Roberto Aguayo was released by the team due to his struggles in training camp and in their 23-12 preseason loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
