The Jacksonville Jaguars might have finally had enough of Blake Bortles.
After a terrible 3-8 start to their season that included a loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, the Jaguars named Cody Kessler their new starting quarterback and bumped Bortles to clipboard duty.
Jaguars named Cody Kessler as their starting QB.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 26, 2018
Just 10 months removed from an appearance in the AFC Championship Game, the Jaguars have not lived up to expectations as a rising power in the conference. They’ve lost seven games in a row after a 3-1 start.
Much of that regression falls on Bortles’ shoulders. Against Buffalo Sunday, he went 12-for-23 for 127 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
On the year, Bortles has a 60.4 percent completion rate, 7.0 yards per attempt, 13 touchdowns and 10 picks. He’s also taken 27 sacks.
The benching could spell the end of the road for the former third overall draft pick, despite the three-year, $54 million contract he received from the team in February.
The Jaguars traded for Kessler from the Cleveland Browns last offseason to serve as second-stringer to Bortles. Kessler last started a game in 2016 and owns an 0-8 record as a starter.
In another move on Monday, the Jaguars fired offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. Coach Doug Marrone was expected elevate quarterbacks coach Scott Milanovich to the position.
The Washington Redskins visit the Jaguars in Week 15, on Dec. 16.
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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