Trash? Jaguars QB Bortles ‘making guys eat those words’

JACKSONVILLE, FLA. » Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles kicked Jadeveon Clowney’s “trash” talk to the curb.

Clearly frustrated following a 45-7 loss at Jacksonville on Sunday, Clowney called Bortles trash after the game. Bortles got his first chance to respond Wednesday and handled the latest insult as well as he has opposing defenses in recent weeks.

“If how we’re playing and how I’m playing is trash, then I’m fine with being trash,” Bortles said.

Bortles is the NFL’s most prolific passer in December. He has thrown for 903 yards, with seven touchdowns and no interceptions in three games in the playoffs-defining month. He completed 21 of 29 passes for 326 yards and three touchdowns against the Texans.

“I’ve heard a lot of stuff, and I imagine some of the stuff I didn’t see somebody told me,” Bortles said. “I’m sure there are things out there that I have no idea about, but I could care less.”

The Jaguars (10-4) clinched a playoff spot with their seventh victory in eight games and can win the AFC South for the first time since its inception in 2002 with a win at San Francisco (4-10) on Sunday.

Bortles has been a big reason for the franchise’s resurgence.

But that hasn’t stopped opponents from taking shots at the fourth-year pro who entered this season with a reputation for turning the ball over at an alarming rate. Bortles began 2017 with the same number of wins (10) as interceptions returned for touchdowns. He also had 15 more passes batted down at the line of scrimmage than any other quarterback during his first three years in the NFL.