Blaine Gabbert will take the field Sunday when the Jacksonville Jaguarsopen the Gus Bradley era against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The team announced that the third-year passer will start the game after throwing extensively during practice this week. Gabbert missed the team's final two preseason games with a thumb injury.
Bradley repeatedly said Gabbert would be a game-time decision, but we fully expected him to play. With Gabbert active, the Chiefs should anticipate more of the fast-paced attack we saw the Jaguars run during the preseason. Most of that work was done by backup Chad Henne -- Gabbert played just 48 snaps in August -- but both quarterbacks looked more at home in the quick-decision air game.
Gabbert in the preseason spent just 1.98 seconds in the pocket before passing the ball, less time than any other NFL quarterback, per Pro Football Focus. A mere five of his 25 attempts in August went for more than 10 yards through the air, so the Jags remain a good bet to badger the Chiefs with a handful of screens and short-range passes.
Fast-paced, slow-paced -- suit yourself. No quarterback is under more pressure to prove he belongs.
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