Jaguars rookie QB Blake Bortles to play with first-team offense in preseason game at Lions

Published September 19, 2015

FILE - In this June 18, 2014, file photo, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) looks for a receiver during a team scrimmage at NFL football minicamp in Jacksonville, Fla. The majority of teams pay their starting quarterbacks just a fraction of the base salaries of the Peyton Mannings, Tom Brady and Jay Cutler, who makes $17.5 million this season.(AP Photo/John Raoux, File) (The Associated Press)

Rookie Blake Bortles will get his first opportunity with the first-team offense this week.

Jaguars coach Gus Bradley says Bortles will get repetitions with the starters in practice this week and will play about a quarter with them during Friday's preseason game at Detroit.

Bradley remains committed to veteran Chad Henne as the team's opening-day starter. Since selecting Bortles with the third overall pick in May's NFL draft, the Jaguars have insisted that Henne would start and Bortles would take over when he's ready. In the meantime, Bradley and general manager Dave Caldwell want to foster a pressure-free environment for Bortles to transition to the team's pro-style system.

But the former UCF standout has been impressive in two preseason games, completing 23 of 34 passes for 290 yards and showing he's ready for the next challenge.

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