Gardner Minshew hasn't shown me enough to make me stick with him over
Nick Foles. Of course, I need to see where Foles is in his recovery and whether he's healthy enough to play, but he should be the guy when he's ready. The division is still within reach and Foles could provide the team with a much-needed boost after the
Jalen Ramsey trade.
There's a sentiment that a player shouldn't lose his job because of injury, but a player
does lose his job if the guy who is replacing him has played well. That has happened a lot throughout history. Minshew is 3-3 in games he's started, with all three of his losses coming by seven points or fewer. He's earned the chance to get the
Jaguars to the postseason with how he's played thus far. If Minshew trends in the wrong direction, well, history has also shown that the Jags boast one of the most dangerous backups down the stretch.
I'd make Foles the starter if he's good to go health-wise. Minshew has kept the
Jaguars afloat within the division, but it's not like he's had the kind of run we've seen from
Kyle Allen in Carolina and
Teddy Bridgewater in New Orleans, going undefeated while starting in place of injured QB1s. Minshew has made an impact and his future looks bright, but Foles has earned the right to be the starter. If Foles doesn't play well, then ask me this question again.
The
Jacksonville Jaguars signed
Nick Foles in the offseason because they felt they were a quarterback away from getting back to the AFC Championship Game. If Foles is fully healthy, the Jags have to put him in. He's proven he can elevate an offense, and the Jags need that right now. This team has to stack some wins, and Minshew's .500 record as a starter isn't good enough to justify keeping Foles on the bench.
Gardner Minshew has certainly made a good impression while filling in for
Nick Foles. But the veteran QB is a proven winner in big games and he gives the
Jaguars the best chance to succeed. It's that simple.