STARTING MIKE GLENNON IN WEEK 12 IS A HEAD SCRATCHER

Mike Glennon/Icon Sportswire

Why in the world are the Jaguars starting Mike Glennon in week 12? You tell me. 

BY JORDAN DE LUGO

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Wednesday morning, Jaguars' head coach Doug Marrone told the media that Mike Glennon would enter the starting lineup as the quarterback for the first time this season. Despite rookie Jake Luton and second-year quarterback Gardner Minshew being healthy, Marrone is rolling with the seven-year vet in week 12. 

Why?

I couldn't tell you. Throughout training camp this summer, Glennon was probably the fourth-best quarterback on the team. Minshew and Luton were clearly playing better football than Glennon, and from my perch, Josh Dobbs was too. Dobbs is, of course, back in Pittsburgh with the same team the Jags traded a fifth-round pick to last season to acquire Dobbs. 

Marrone explained that the team likes a lot of what Jake Luton did over the last three weeks, but he certainly wasn't getting the job done for the Jaguars' offense, leading just one touchdown drive over the previous two contests. 

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So, why isn't Gardner Minshew starting for the Jaguars? Marrone says he wants to get Minshew more reps in practice leading up to his return to the playing field, which he wouldn't be able to do in this Thanksgiving/COVID shortened week. More reps? If your starting quarterback is able to throw a football, and the trainers tell you he's healthy, then you're putting him in the game, no? It's not as if Minshew isn't familiar with the offense and the receivers. 

Is Marrone punishing Minshew for not coming forward about being injured after the first game of the Texans?

I've tried — and failed — to wrap my head around this decision. It's not like you're throwing Glennon out there to "see what you've got" in him. The guy is a seven-year vet that's proven he's not a starting quarterback. There's no situation in which Mike Glennon gives the Jaguars a better chance to win than Garnder Minshew. And even if he did, it's not like you're competing for a playoff spot at this point. The smart thing to do at this juncture, even if Glennon were comparable to Minshew in terms of ability as a starting quarterback, would be to go with Minshew or Luton, who both have upside as young players. 

It's an unthinkable decision by Doug Marrone. Another head-scratcher. Another one that makes it clear he shouldn't be here long term. 

The ONLY way the thought process behind this decision makes a lick of sense is if Doug Marrone is now in on the tank. But I doubt that's the case. I don't know how that fits into Doug Marrone's plans or psyche. He openly said that Shad Khan hadn't guaranteed that he'd finish out the season as the Jaguars' head coach, much less return for a fifth season at the helm in 2020. So why wouldn't he give his team the best chance to win? 

Please don't misinterpret what I'm saying: I unquestionably believe losing the rest of their ball games is the best path forward for the franchise's long-term health. 

Follow Jordan on Twitter for all the latest Jaguars news and analysis. ​