The NFL has named Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew as the Pepsi Rookie of the Week for his efforts against the Kansas City Chiefs in the season opener.
After starter Nick Foles went down in the first quarter with a broken collarbone, Minshew stepped up; producing 275 yards, two touchdowns and an interception of 22 for 25 passing. Though the Jaguars lost 40-26, Minshew walked away with the NFL's record in pass completion in a debut game (88%) as well as the Jaguars' for any individual in a game.
Jacksonville selected Minshew with a sixth-round pick out of Washington State. He won the backup job to Foles during the preseason and will stick as the starter until the incumbent returns.
On Minshew's performance and his prospects going forward, Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone said, via ESPN's Michael DiRocco:
“I feel better about him [Minshew] now, today, after Week 1, than I did probably during the preseason. I think that's fair to say. I think the work during the preseason was able to get him ready for things like this. I don't know — I'm hoping that's the case.
“I think what you have to understand is it's very difficult for any backup quarterback to go out there because they don't take any reps during the week. He didn't take any reps against Kansas City's defense and went out there and performed. We didn't have any delay-of-games, we didn't have any things of that nature, ran a two-minute [drill].”
Minshew performed admirably in relief of Foles. His next game will be against the Texans in Houston, where they are 10-1 against rookie quarterbacks since defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel's arrival (2014).
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