Jaguars QB Bortles gets 1st-team reps in practice

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) The Jacksonville Jaguars got a glimpse of the future Monday as rookie quarterback Blake Bortles took repetitions with the first-team offense in practice.

It was Bortles' first work with the starters since the Jaguars selected the former UCF standout with the third overall pick in May's NFL draft.

After working entirely with the second team during organized team activities and throughout three-plus weeks of training camp, Bortles took three snaps with the starters in 11-on-11 drills Monday and five more in a 7-on-7 session.

''He looked good,'' coach Gus Bradley said. ''The speed of the game, it was good for him to see that. ... Sitting back there and watching it, I just felt like that was good for him.''

Bradley said Bortles will get the same number of first-team reps the next few days, all in anticipation of Bortles playing about a quarter with the starters during Friday's preseason game at Detroit.

Bortles has completed 18 of 28 passes for 277 yards in two preseason games.

Chad Henne had taken all of the previous first-team snaps. The Jaguars insist that, barring injury, Henne will be the team's starting quarterback for the regular-season opener against Philadelphia on Sept. 7. Henne has completed 16 of 24 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown in the preseason.

Henne said he was comfortable with Bortles getting some time with the starters.

''He definitely needs that opportunity, especially when you never know what's going to happen during the season, whether I go down or I'm not playing well and he needs to step in,'' Henne said. ''Getting some work with the ones will definitely be beneficial. Blake needs to see what it's like with the ones and feel that tempo and get some time with the offensive line and where he's going to set up and throw the football.''

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