The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jags keep Bortles as starter
Marrone stays with ’14 1st-rounder at QB; Edelman’s ACL torn.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are sticking with Blake Bortles — because of his legs.
Coach Doug Marrone selected Bortles as his starting quarterback for the season opener Saturday, a surprising turnabout that said more about the team’s offensive line than its signal callers. Marrone’s decision came a little more than a week after he opened up the job and pleaded with Bortles and veteran Chad Henne to “go out there and take it.”
Marrone said he “had enough information” to stay with Bortles. The third overall pick in the 2014 draft will make his 46th consecutive start when the Jaguars open Sept. 10 at Houston.
Going back to Bortles was a clear indictment of the team’s shaky offensive line, which has been underwhelming in three preseason games. The Jaguars are planning to start rookie Cam Robinson at left tackle and are undecided at left guard. The right side is far from rock solid, too.
“Blake has the ability to extend plays for us, which I think is going to be helpful in what we have to get done,” Marrone said.
Henne started Thursday’s exhibition game against the Panthers and had some decent moments, but the 10th-year pro also got sacked three times in the first half.
Bortles delivered his best outing of the preseason, finishing with a touchdown and an interception while keeping several plays alive with his legs.
Patriots: Star wide receiver Julian Edelman will miss the 2017 season after tearing the ACL in his right knee in a preseason game.
The Patriots announced Saturday that Edelman, Tom Brady’s favorite target and one of the NFL’s most clutch receivers, would be sidelined all season after the non-contact injury in the first quarter of Friday night’s game at Detroit.
The 31-year-old Edelman headed downfield after a catch and when he planted his right foot into the turf, he tore the ligament.
Edelman, whose spectacular fourth-quarter reception helped the Patriots’ record comeback win in the Super Bowl in February, signed a two-year contract extension earlier this year. He has been, by far, Brady’s top pass catcher with 436 receptions over the past four seasons, including the playoffs.
New England also cut defensive end Kony Ealy, whom it acquired in a trade with Carolina in March. Ealy, 25, spent three seasons with the Panthers and was best known for his three sacks in Super Bowl 50 against Denver.
Chiefs: Could be without top running back Spencer Ware for the start of the season after he hurt his right knee in Friday’s preseason game in Seattle. The initial diagnosis was a sprain, but Ware was due for an MRI Saturday amid reports he injured one of his ligaments.
If that’s the case, he could miss anywhere from several weeks to the entire season.
Coach Andy Reid said that third-round draft pick Kareem Hunt would be first in line to pick up carries.
Giants: Pro Bowl wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. sat out Saturday’s preseason game against the Jets with a sprained left ankle. Beckham did not practice this week after being hurt Monday night in a preseason loss in Cleveland.
Coach Ben McAdoo has said little about the injury other than Beckham is day to day and getting treatment.
Fellow receiver Brandon Marshall, who hurt a shoulder against Cleveland, also did not play.
Bills: Quarterback Tyrod Taylor was removed from Saturday night’s game at Baltimore because of a concussion. The injury occurred at the end of the Bills’ second possession of the game when Taylor was sacked by linebacker Matthew Judon and landed hard on the turf.
The quarterback was slow getting off the field and was replaced by Nathan Peterman on the next series.
Meantime, defensive tackle Marcell Dareus was sent home for violating a team rule and didn’t play. The Bills did not reveal the specifics of the violation.
Lions: Detroit may have lost another starting defensive player to injury, this time weakside linebacker Tahir Whitehead, the team’s leading tackler in 2016. Whitehead left Friday night’s preseason game against the Patriots with an apparent knee injury after making two tackles in the first half.
The Lions lost left end Kerry Hyder to a torn Achilles tendon earlier in camp.