What Does the Decision to Start Nick Foles Mean for Gardner Minshew’s Future?

When Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone announced Tuesday that he decided Nick Foles would be the team's starting quarterback moving forward instead of rookie Gardner Minshew II, Jacksonville once again became Foles' team.

The offense and the locker room had rallied behind Minshew after Foles went down with a clavicle injury 11 snaps into his Jaguars' tenure because this was something Minshew earned. Over his eight games as a starter, a period where Jacksonville went 4-4, Minshew proved he has a place in this league. He proved that he could be a playmaker at the game's most important position, and he proved you can win with him.

But this was never supposed to happen. That is what has gotten lost a bit in the Foles/Minshew debate over the last several weeks. The Jaguars were always supposed to be Foles' team. Why else would the team give him a four-year, $88 million contract with the most guaranteed money in team history ($50.125 million)?

After all, it is not like the Jaguars spent a premium pick on Minshew with the idea of grooming him to become a starter in the near future. The team selected him with the 178th overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft and they drafted five players before ultimately turning in the card with his name on it. He was always meant to develop behind Foles and, hopefully, grow into a dependable backup.

Foles was never supposed to be sidelined for two months after only two drives as the starter. It was never supposed to be an actual decision when it came to who should start between the high priced free agent and the rookie passer. The only reason it ever even became a question is because of what Minshew did over the last two months.

The Jaguars are 4-5 entering their bye week, so it is not like Minshew was ever flawless, but he showed more positive flashes than any sixth-round rookie who didn't get any reps with the starting offense in training camp is supposed to.

This is especially true considering Minshew's preseason, which was one lackluster performance after another and had people questioning if the Jaguars should add another quarterback before the season starts.

But flash forward a few months, and Minshew exits his time as the 2019 Jaguars starting quarterback as a passer who completed 61.2% of his passes and threw for 2,285 yards, 13 touchdowns, and four interceptions, along with seven lost fumbles.

"The story in the beginning was I feel a lot better because I did not know what we had as a backup quarterback going into the season, and I feel that right now we have two really good quarterbacks," Marrone said Tuesday.

Marrone also said he thinks his rookie quarterback still has a place not only on the Jaguars but in the NFL in general. This is an obvious point, but it is one worth examing.

“I feel a whole lot different about him now than I did prior to him playing in a very positive way," Marrone said.

"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.”

While it may feel like to some that Minshew is done as a permanent fixture in the Jacksonville offense due to the commitment to Foles, both financially and on the field in terms of offensive design, the rookie is by no means done as an NFL quarterback.

Minshew is a 23-year old rookie who is nine games into his career. He is under contract as a Jaguar for at least 55 more regular-season games over the next four years. Tuesday's decision was not the final chapter of his story; it was merely the start of a new one.

For the time being, the Jaguars are going to be Foles' team. And unless something dramatically changes, this will be the case for the next few years. But Jacksonville and Minshew each still have time on their side. Just because he isn't their answer today doesn't mean he won't be someone's answer at quarterback someday, whether it be for the Jaguars or elsewhere.

At the end of the day, Jacksonville is much better off at the quarterback position than they were a year ago when Blake Bortles and Cody Kessler were in a fierce competition of ineptitude. While Jacksonville gives Foles the shot he never technically lost in the first place, it can take solace in the fact that Minshew is still waiting in the wings for the foreseeable future.

Tuesday was an expected outcome. Everything beforehand? It wasn't supposed to happen. And that is why Minshew still has a future worth looking forward to.

What do you think about Nick Foles getting the starting job back? Agree or disagree with coach Marrone's decision? Sound off in the comments below!