Nick Foles was supposed to be the missing link for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Instead, he’s just missing.
The quarterback signed a four-year, $88 million contract (including $50 million in guaranteed money) with Jacksonville in the offseason. The expectation was that Foles would help the Jaguars play more like they did in 2017 when they made it to the AFC Championship before having a disappointing 2018.
It hasn’t worked out that way. Foles broke his collarbone in the season opener and didn’t return until Week 10. He’s lost all three games he’s started and it looks like he’ll had a fourth Sunday against Tampa Bay.
Foles already is done for the day. He was benched in favor of rookie Gardner Minshew at halftime with the Jaguars trailing 25-0 after completing seven of 14 passes for 93 yards with an interception in the first half. Minshew led the Jaguars to a 4-4 record while Foles was injured. Minshew came into the game with 2,285 yards and four interception.
Could Foles benching be permanent? Probably not. The Jaguars have too much money invested in Foles in the first two years of his contract. Cutting Foles before next season would cost the Jaguars nearly $34 million in dead money.
But there is a way the Jaguars can void Foles’ contract before the 2021 season. That’s likely when Minshew takes over on a permanent basis.
Pat Yasinskas has covered the NFL since 1993. He has worked for The Tampa Tribune, The Charlotte Observer and ESPN.com and writes for numerous national magazines and websites. He also has served as a voter for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.