Jaguars coach Bradley: Henne on track to start over Bortles in Week 1
Jacksonville Jaguars coach Gus Bradley said veteran Chad Henne is still projected to start the team's Sept. 7 season opener at Philadelphia.
In Saturday's preseason game against Tampa Bay, Henne completed four of seven pass attempts for 30 yards, while Blake Bortles, the No. 3 pick in the 2014 draft, went 7-of-11 for 117 yards.
Bradley pointed out that Bortles was facing Tampa Bay's second-string defense, according to Alex Marvez of FoxSports.com.
“Chad has done a nice job,” Bradley continued. “I know that Chad has a body of work that he can really rely on. We’ve seen really good progress as far as his mentality and mindset from OTAs. We think that coupled with his experience and the way he’s performed to this point really puts him in that position.
“Blake has done some good things, but he’s missing kind of that body of work. We’re in the process of building that.”
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In March, Bradley said that he and general manager David Caldwellplanned to start Henne in the season opener.
Henne, 29, passed for 3,241 yards with 13 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 15 games with the Jaguars last season.
Bortles, 22, threw for 3,581 yards with 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions with Central Florida.
The Jaguars' next preseason game is Thursday night at Chicago.
Bradley said Tuesday that Henne would play the entire first half against the Bears and that Bortles could play the whole second half.
- Chris Johnson
