Foles benched as Jaguars switch back to rookie Minshew as starter amid 4-game skid
Nick Foles #7 of the Jacksonville Jaguars looks on during the third quarter of a football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at TIAA Bank Field on December 01, 2019 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew will return to Jacksonville’s starting lineup Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers, replacing ineffective and highly paid veteran Nick Foles following the team's fourth consecutive lopsided loss.
Coach Doug Marrone made the announcement Monday, one day after a 28-11 home loss to Tampa Bay in which the Jaguars (4-8) managed 242 yards, turned the ball over four times and were flagged a season-high 16 times for 125 yards. It was the team's 18th loss in its past 24 games.
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Foles ended Jacksonville's first three drives with turnovers that the Buccaneers turned into touchdowns. Marrone benched Foles at halftime, trailing 25-0.
Minshew, who went 4-4 as the starter while Foles recovered from a broken left collarbone suffered in the opener, rallied the team and had a chance to make it a seven-point game in the fourth quarter. But his would-be TD pass slipped through Dede Westbrook’s hands and resulted in an interception.