Gardner Minshew Has Earned His NFL Stripes

Gardner Minshew was always going to make way for Nick Foles once the veteran returned from his broken collarbone.

However, in his eight starts, the Jacksonville Jaguars rookie quarterback impressed his coach, fans, and the wider NFL community. 

Gardner Minshew stepped in for Nick Foles when Foles was hit just 10 snaps into the season. His style of play and performances took the NFL world by storm. Gardner Minshew verged on becoming a meme, but it’s clear that he will last longer in the zeitgeist than that.

The Jaguars were 4 – 4 with Minshew as a starter. He completed 58.9 percent of his passes for 251 yards per game, 11 TDs to 3 INTs and an 89.4 passer rating.

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“I think I proved I can be a guy in this league for a long, long time,” Minshew said.

“I think they believe that. And there’s other things we’re going to get better at so the next time I do get this opportunity, I’ll be ready and I’ll be better and we’re all going to progress together.”

Jacksonville coach Doug Marrone agrees.

“He’s done a great job,” coach Doug Marrone said. 

“I feel a whole lot different about him now than I did prior to him playing, in a very positive way. We took some things and had some discussions on things that we’re going to work on going forward which will give him the ability to be a player in this league for a long time.

“We really believe that.”

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He’ll return to the bench now, but ‘Minshew Mania’ won’t soon be forgotten. Nick Foles now has a true competitor for his starting place, who will be ready should the veteran get hit again.