After a hectic offseason that witnessed the Jacksonville Jaguars part ways with several key players, fans and analysts do not expect much from the team for the upcoming season. As a matter of fact, the Jags are currently projected to win just five games in 2020. 

However, instead of feeling disheartened by the early projections, quarterback Gardner Minshew takes the public’s perception as a challenge, one that he hopes will rub on with the entire squad.

“I think it should put a chip on everybody’s shoulder on our team, know being kind of counted out like that,” said Minshew on Thursday.

“I think we do have a lot to prove, prove that we are not what anybody says about us, the only people that really know, the only peoples whose opinions matter is who is in that huddle, who is on that team and I think we are going to set those expectations for ourselves and not worry about what anybody else has to say about us.”

The huddle will have its obstacles on offense this season for Minshew’s Jags. Jacksonville immediately terminated its Nick Foles experiment after signing the Super Bowl LII MVP in what was a four-year, $50M deal. Distractions have also risen in the offseason with the Leonard Fouurnette trade rumors and the ongoing drama between Yannick Ngakoue and the Jaguars’ management.

Jacksonville will likewise have its hands full on the other side of the field as the league’s 21st-ranked defense will have to deal with the departures of AJ Bouye, Marcell Dareus, and Calais Campbell.