Jaguars auditioning starting quarterbacks, general managers
The Jacksonville Jaguars are holding all sorts of auditions during Christmas week.
Coach Doug Marrone said Wednesday that Gardner Minshew and Mike Glennon will vie for the starting job in practice before hosting Chicago (7-7). That's right, an open competition in Week 16 of the regular season.
“We've all gone through a lot of situations,” Minshew said. “I don't think anything quite like this.“
Owner Shad Khan, meanwhile, interviewed current ESPN analyst Louis Riddick and former Houston executive Rick Smith for the team's general manager position Wednesday. Khan fired Dave Caldwell late last month and made former San Francisco executive Trent Baalke the interim GM.
Riddick, who gained front office experience as director of pro personnel for the Philadelphia Eagles (2010-13) and was a scout with the Eagles and Washington before that, already interviewed for GM openings in Houston and Detroit. Smith, who spent a dozen seasons as Texans GM, already met with Atlanta and is expected to also interview with Detroit.
Jacksonville (1-13), which has lost a franchise-record-tying 13 consecutive games, has arguably the most attractive GM opening in the league. The Jaguars currently have a grasp on the No. 1 pick in 2021 NFL draft — likely Clemson star quarterback Trevor Lawrence — to go with 10 more picks and close to $100 million in salary cap space.
They also have the youngest roster in the NFL, a group that includes key building blocks in pass rusher Josh Allen, linebacker Myles Jack, cornerback CJ Henderson, running back James Robinson, and receiver DJ Chark.
What they don't have is — and haven't had in decades — is a franchise quarterback.
Jacksonville failed to find one despite using top-10 picks on Byron Leftwich (2003), Blaine Gabbert (2011) and Blake Bortles (2014). It also wasted more than $50 million to sign free agent and former Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles in 2019.
Caldwell and Marrone took a chance on Minshew this season, but the 2019 sixthround draft pick showed more flaws than flashes. Minshew started Jacksonville's first seven games in 2020, throwing 13 touchdown passes and five interceptions, but he also took 22 sacks.
Marrone turned to rookie Jake Luton at the bye week, partly because of Minshew's struggles to get the ball down the field and partly because of a sprained thumb on his throwing hand. Luton made three starts, but ended up getting benched after a four-turnover performance against Pittsburgh. Glennon replaced him and started three games, a run that ended following his fourth turnover in six quarters.
Minshew regained the starting spot last week at Baltimore, but was sacked five times and missed several open receivers deep.
Haskins fined, but still may start Sunday: Dwayne Haskins was handed a hefty fine Wednesday for partying with several people not wearing a mask but will start at quarterback for Washington on Sunday if Alex Smith isn't healthy enough to go.
The organization fined Haskins $40,000 for violating COVID-19 protocols, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced the fine.
Haskins apologized to teammates, took the first-team snaps in practice, and is in line to play against Carolina if needed with the NFC East title potentially at stake — as long as he doesn't test positive for the coronavirus this week. He apologized publicly Tuesday for his actions after photos showing him without a mask around several other people surfaced on social media.
Coach Ron Rivera said Haskins was stripped of his captaincy and bristled at a continued line of questions about the 2019 first-round pick who he benched and demoted to third-string earlier this season. Washington can clinch the NFC East title Sunday if the New York Giants lose to Baltimore and it beats the Panthers.
Lions practice without interim coach: The Detroit Lions have resumed practicing without interim coach Darrell Bevell, defensive coordinator Cory Undlin and and some other assistants on the field.
Bevell said Wednesday he has not tested positive for COVID-19, but he is among the several coaches affected by contact tracing. The Lions closed their training facility on Tuesday because one player and one coach tested positive for the coronavirus.
“We have not had any new positive tests, which will enable us to be able to go ahead with practice and have the players here in the building,” Bevell said.
Bevell and the other coaches in isolation watched the practice virtually and were part of meetings via Zoom.
Smith had led Washington on a fourgame winning streak before straining his right calf Dec. 13 against San Francisco. Haskins started and threw two interceptions in a 20-15 loss to Seattle.