JACKSONVILLE – The Jaguars will have a new quarterback Sunday. Again.
Mike Glennon, the Jaguars' backup quarterback for the first 10 games of the 2020 NFL season, will become the team's third starting quarterback of the season – and the third in the last five games – when he starts against the Cleveland Browns Sunday.
Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone announced the move on his Wednesday videoconference.
"Mike will go ahead and he'll get the start," Marrone said Wednesday as the Jaguars (1-9) prepared to play the Browns (7-3) at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville Sunday at a 1 p.m. "I think he gives us the best chance to win.
"Mike's experienced. That's why we brought him in here – to be able to fill in whenever we need him. So, he'll get his opportunity."
Rookie Jake Luton started the last three games for the Jaguars, throwing a touchdown and an interception in each of his first two starts – but throwing four interceptions in a 27-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers this past Sunday.
Marrone said he spoke to Luton Wednesday morning and told the sixth-round selection the team "was going to take a step back and kind of digest things, and just look at things and get you back on track."
"He's fine," Marrone said. "I think he has a chance to become a good football player in this league. I don't think it's uncommon when a young guy gets thrown in there and shows promise, then you see some of the technique stuff start to go down.
"There's a lot of good things I see in Jake. I think it's just a smart move to take a step back with him right now. I think people can understand that, especially people in the league – and I think people on the outside, too."
Second-year veteran Gardner Minshew II started the first seven games of this season before a thumb injury kept him out the last three games. Marrone said Minshew will still be listed as limited on the injury report and the Minshew said he's "feeling good."
"I just feel like we can't get enough throws in during this week," Marrone said. "I want him to have a full week, a full load of work, before I put someone in there. … I want to make sure someone I put out there is 100 percent; I don't want any setbacks.
"That position is a little different. It's not like any other position where you say, 'Hey, we're going to give some other guy reps and maybe he'll make it through the game or he may not.' Because of the game-planning that goes into it, that player has to get all the reps and I've got to feel confident that guy can make it through the whole game and can do everything we're asking him."
Marrone said he is entering the week with the idea that Minshew could be the backup Sunday. He said a final decision on that will depend on how Minshew throws in practice. He said he believes Minshew is at the last stage of returning before being able to play, and that Minshew's throws will be increased this week.
"If he has to go in there for a quarter or a half a game or whatever it may be – if something happens with Mike, then at least he's available," Marrone said.
Glennon, a seven-year NFL veteran, signed with the Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent this past offseason after spending last season with the Oakland Raiders. A third-round selection by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2013 NFL Draft, he spent three seasons with the Buccaneers then spent 2017 with the Chicago Bears and 2018 with the Arizona Cardinals.
Glennon's last start came in 2017, when he started four games for Chicago. He has 36 touchdown passes and 5,136 yards passing with 20 interceptions in 29 career games. He has started 22 games with a 6-16 career record as a starter.
NOTABLE
Marrone said he expects rookie wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (hamstring) and tight end James O'Shaughnessy (knee) to be limited in practice Wednesday, with cornerback Sidney Jones IV (Achilles) not expected to practice; all three players missed the loss to the Steelers. Tight end Tyler Eifert (concussion protocol) is expected to be limited in practice Wednesday, with guard Andrew Norwell (elbow) and cornerback Chris Claybrooks (groin) not expected to practice.
