Jaguars: The choice between Nick Foles and Gardner Minshew

After the bye week, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone is going to have a tough decision to make.

There is no way the Jacksonville Jaguars want to admit this, but it seems as though they have a quarterback issue on their roster and it wasn’t caused by a lack of poor play on the field.

When Nick Foles was pummeled to the ground after 10 plays into the first game of the 2019 season, the hope was Gardner Minshew would do enough keep the team afloat until the former Super Bowl MVP came back from injury.

As we all know, Minshew has done a little more than that and should he and the Jaguars win on Sunday in London by beating the Houston Texans, Jacksonville will own a 5-4 record and then the talk about which signal-caller starts the game on Sept. 17 at Indianapolis will heat up faster than a summer in North Florida.

It’s a good problem to have, one the Jaguars haven’t had to deal with since the days of David Garrard and Byron Leftwich. But in reality, a decision will have to be made. It’s one head coach Doug Marrone would like to make later rather than sooner.

More from Jacksonville Jaguars News

• Jacksonville Jaguars should welcome Derrick Henry into the kingdom
• Jaguars Rumors: Trent Baalke seems to be getting respect now
• Jaguars News: This division rival might be making a big move
• Former Jacksonville Jaguars S Johnathan Cyprien: “New Profession, Same Standards”
• Jacksonville Jaguars TE Evan Engram officially gets the franchise tag: 3 takeaways

"“I don’t know. I haven’t really thought about it, but I think every decision’s always a tough decision unless it’s an injury thing where someone just has to go in there,” Marrone told the media on Monday via conference call.“Again, I’m trying to focus on what we have going this week, which is a unique week, going to London. We have a lot of guys that are kind of banged up, obviously by your first question, so right now my focus is on trying to make sure – see how we can get these guys healthy, and feeling good, and preparing them for this trip across the pond and really getting to this bye week where we can kind of get healed up again.”"

The contrast in Minshew and Foles is as obvious as night and day, but quarterbacks give the Jaguars a chance to win on Sundays. The biggest question facing Marrone and his staff, and really the organization, is will Marrone give the job back to Foles, who lost the spot due to injury, negating the chemistry that has been built between the rookie and the offense?

Or, will the head coach stick with what is familiar? Minshew wasn’t effective in the passing game during the preseason but has proven he can run an NFL offense and is the lightning rod of adrenaline and is accurate in the passing game.

"“It’s not just that the rookie sixth-round pick threw for 279 yards and three touchdowns in the Jaguars’ 29-15 victory against the New York Jets. It’s that he continues to make plays with his legs, scrambling for first downs and to avoid pressure and find a receiver,” writes Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com.“Foles definitely has the edge in experience and accomplishments (a Super Bowl MVP) but it’s that ability to elude and create that brings an extra element to the Jaguars’ offense, especially on days when the run game just isn’t working.”"

There is a business element to this “competition” as well. The birth of “Minshew Mania” and the marketing campaign the organization has used while No. 15 does his best Houdini act on the field has taken off and grown into a national boon. When thousands pack TIAA Bank Field with men, women, and children all wearing mustaches, headbands, and jorts, looking like the legend he has become, it’s hard to ignore that Minshew has become a package the Jaguars have gotten behind.

And for that reason, should he win in his first trip to London on Sunday, it will be hard to tell him to stand on the sidelines and watch his counterpart give it a go.

The reality of it is Jacksonville is in a good situation with either signal-caller. The defense is playing its best football right now. The running game has some kinks to work out, but Leonard Fournette is one of the best in the game right now.

And regardless of the situation, with a 4-4 record, this is a better football team than the one that was on the field at this time last season.

Like everyone else, we will wait for a decision. It’s not as easy as an $88-million contract or experience vs. youthful exuberance. It’s who the coaching staff believes will give this team the best chance to win on Sundays. For everyone involved, it could change the direction of this franchise this season and in the future.

Marrone must choose wisely.