JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 19: Gardner Minshew #15 of the Jacksonville Jaguars throws a touchdown pass during the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at TIAA Bank Field on September 19, 2019 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
The Jacksonville Jaguars season could have been in jeopardy when Nick Foles broke his clavicle in Week 1, but rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew has more than stepped up to the plate.
After leading the Jacksonville Jaguars to a win on Thursday Night Football last week against the Tennessee Titans, Gardner Minshew knew he would have his work cut out for him against a Denver Broncos defense that has the potential to be one of the league’s best.
While the Broncos started the season slowly with no sacks in their first three games, Von Miller’s early sack in Week 4 opened the floodgates. Minshew was sacked four times into the third quarter of the game, absorbing eight total QB hits. Von Miller and Bradley Chubb had three QB hits apiece, with Miller recording a second sack on Minshew.
The sixth-round rookie was nearly sacked with the Jaguars driving, but he somehow managed to avoid all the rushers before firing off a seven-yard score to Ryquell Armstead in the third quarter to cut the Jaguars deficit to 17-13.
While Minshew hasn’t been a playmaker for the Jaguars, he has made plays like this one to give the team a chance in each of their games. Minshew has made good use of rookie wideout DJ Chark and others, and he rode Leonard Fournette’s 165 yards while doing duel with former Super Bowl champion Joe Flacco.
And who knew Minshew had magic feet like this? He looked like Russell Wilson in the pocket, swimming away from the Broncos vicious pass rush before getting his six points for the offense by finding an unlikely option. (That was Armstead’s only target of the game to that point.)
Minshew, who finished fifth in Heisman voting last season at Washington State, entered Week 4 with 7.9 yards per attempt and five touchdowns to one interception.