Since the Jacksonville Jaguars saw their Super Bowl hopes dashed in the AFC Championship game loss to the New England Patriots, there have been many questions concerning quarterback Blake Bortles' long-term future with the franchise.

This discussion picked back up in wake of the news that Bortles underwent wrist surgery last week. However, Ian Rapoport of The Network is reporting that the Jaguars are expected to bring back the 25-year-old next season.

“He should be fully available for the upcoming season. My understanding is that the Jaguars are planning to keep him. This is something that we talked about during the playoffs. I know this something people talk about them potentially being in the free agency quarterback mix. To my understanding, Blake Bortles is their quarterback.”

Bortles still has one year left on his rookie deal, with a $19 million fifth-year option that Jacksonville picked up prior to the 2017 campaign. It is a steep financial step up from the $6.5 million in base salary and bonuses that he received this past season.

Bortles has received a bevy of criticism over the last couple of seasons due to his inconsistent play on the field. Although he didn't have a standout campaign by any means, he was productive, throwing for 3,687 yards, 21 touchdowns, and a career-low 13 interception despite dealing with a right wrist that ultimately required surgery.

Beyond that, he was able to help guide the Jaguars to their first AFC Championship game since the 1999 season. He performed well enough, consistently moving the ball while avoiding costly turnovers over three playoff games.

What this does, for the time being, is shift the attention away from the Jaguars acquiring another quarterback to lead their offense. There was chatter of possible interest in proven veteran quarterbacks like Kirk Cousins and Eli Manning, and while that has quieted down, it's still a possibility. The Jaguars may be committed to Bortles, but things could change over the next few months if the right scenario presents itself.