Sources: Jaguars Quarterback Blake Bortles Has Wrist Surgery

On Monday, NFL sources said Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles had wrist surgery last Friday. The condition he suffered in his right wrists kept the signal caller on Jacksonville’s injury report the entire 2017 season.

Bortles has dealt with the injury to his throwing wrist since the early part of December of 2016. The team elected for Bortles to avoid surgery during the previous offseason and treat his injury with shots. However, during this past season, the shots started to become less effective and when the season concluded surgery was inevitable.

Bortles’ surgery repaired a slight tear and complete recovery is expected.

Jacksonville’s decision to pick the fifth-year option up of Bortles was a gamble to some degree. Since the contract was guaranteed for injury, which means he would still be owed the contract’s full amount even if he cannot pass his physical prior to the league year beginning.

The $19.05 million salary Bortles will earn for the 2018 season will become fully guaranteed if he is on the Jaguars’ roster on the first day of the league year in March. Jacksonville cannot cut Bortles during the time he is hurt or recovering from being injured.

Despite the injury to his wrist during the 2017 season, Bortles enjoyed his best season of his four-year NFL career. He completed over 60% of his passes with 21 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

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Each week he appeared on the team’s injury report but did not miss a practice and was not in the game status report.

Jacksonville’s backup signal caller Chad Henne also has his contract expiring in March.

Blake Bortles was criticized during the season and the playoffs by opponents but was defended by his teammates and coaches. The Jaguars quarterback was instrumental in helping lead the team to an AFC South title and into the AFC Championship Game where they nearly upset the New England Patriots before losing 24-20.

For his career, Bortles has thrown for 14,928 yards, 90 touchdowns, and 64 interceptions in four NFL seasons.