Minshew regains job as Jags’ QB
Rookie QB Gardner Minshew will start Sunday when the reeling Jaguars host the Chargers. Minshew replaces the ineffective and highly paid Nick Foles after the team’s fourth consecutive lopsided loss.
The announcement came Monday, a day after a 28-11 home loss to the Buccaneers in which the Jaguars (4-8) managed 242 yards, turned the ball over four times and were flagged a seasonhigh 16 times for 125 yards.
Minshew went 4-4 as the starter while Foles recovered from a broken left collarbone suffered in the season opener — and his debut with the Jags.
“With Gardner’s mobility and elusiveness, it gives us a better chance of winning with the way we’re playing right now because we’re all not doing a good enough job,” coach Doug Marrone said.
Marrone said Foles handled the demotion well.
“He’s a great pro, so he’s going to do everything he can to help us win,” Marrone said.
Cardinal sin: The NFL suspended Cardinals DB Josh Shaw for gambling partly because of a three-team parlay that included his own team, ESPN reported.
According to the report, Shaw bet on the second halves of three Week 10 games. One was on the Buccaneers, who led the Cardinals 17-13 at halftime. The Bucs, 1-point favorites for the second half, won 30-27 but failed to cover the second-half spread, and Shaw lost his best, according to the report.
On Friday, the NFL suspended Shaw through at least the 2020 season for betting on NFL games several times. The league said it had no evidence that Shaw, who has been on IR all season, used inside information or that any games were compromised.
Browns running uphill: Coach Freddie Kitchens swears he’s not anxious about his future despite the Browns’ playoff hopes taking a devastating hit with a 20-13 loss to the Steelers.
The Browns (5-7) were expected to start December in the playoff race, not as outsiders calculating wild-card scenarios. Kitchens may not survive to get a second season but insists his focus is solely on improving his team.
Asked point-blank whether he’s concerned about job security, he replied, “No, I am not.”
One issue he need not worry about is QB Baker Mayfield, who is not expected to miss time after banging his right hand on an opponent’s face mask as he followed through on a pass.
Licking their wounds: Tom Brady was hit, hurried and harassed by the Texans in a 28-22 Sunday night loss that kept the Patriots from becoming the first AFC team to clinch a playoff spot.
“Execution,” Brady said. “Just got to do a better job. It’s tough to get behind and come back. I give (the Texans) credit. They played well. We didn’t make enough plays.”
Brady’s performance gave him 3,268 yards passing, surpassing 3,000 for the 17th time in his career, second to Brett Favre’s 18. The Patriots (10-2) remain in first place in the AFC East, tied with the Ravens for the AFC’s best record.
Extra points: The Cardinals released veteran CB Tramaine Brock Sr. and RB Zach Zenner. Brock was part of a secondary that has given up the most passing yards in the NFL this season. ... The Dolphins signed DB Eric Rowe to a three-year contract extension worth $18 million. Rowe has 59 tackles and seven pass deflections. ... Jets S Jamal Adams has a sprained left ankle that could sideline him for Sunday’s game against the Dolphins and perhaps longer. ... Broncos DE Derek Wolfe is expected to miss the rest of the season with a dislocated left elbow. ... The Lions put rookie TE T.J. Hockenson on IR with an ankle injury. ... Panthers TE Greg Olsen entered the concussion protocol after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit from Redskins LB Ryan Anderson. ... Falcons rookie G Chris Lindstrom, the No. 14 overall draft pick last spring, was back on the field for the first time since breaking his left foot in the season opener and might take some snaps Sunday against the Panthers.