David Caldwell's best-laid plans aren't long for the football season, according to NFL Media analyst Charles Davis.
The Jacksonville Jaguars general manager declared earlier this week that the plan for No. 3 overall pick Blake Bortles is to sit the rookie quarterback this season so he can learn behind veteran Chad Henne. But Davis sees a change of heart ahead for Caldwell, and not one begotten by injury.
Davis simply thinks Bortles will change their minds.
"I'm going with the upset. I'm saying (Bortles plays) Week 1. Listen, he's getting the full offseason. He'll be in Jacksonville all the time. Home, in Oviedo, Fla., is just two hours away, so the homesickness thing really is not going to kick in," Davis said on NFL Network's "Path to the Draft". "He's going to be immersing himself in the playbook, that's what he did at UCF. He's going to be that kind of guy. I think his play will come to the front, and at some point the staff in Jacksonville is going to look at each other and say, 'Who are we kidding? Let's just go with the kid right now.'"
Analyst Daniel Jeremiah didn't foresee a season-long incubation for Bortles, either, suggesting a Bortles debut in Week 7 would set a likely matchup of first-round quarterbacks in Bortles against Cleveland's Johnny Manziel. Manziel will compete against veteran Brian Hoyer.
If Bortles starts the season, he'll draw a road matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1.
And if he's lucky, rookie wide receivers Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson will be ready to reinvigorate a dismal Jaguars receiving corps.
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