FANTASY FOOTBALL NFL PLAYERS

Posted: 3/28/2013 1:18pm et

Jacksonville Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert said he welcomes a quarterback competition. 'I welcome that,' Gabbert said. 'It's fun to me.'

Huddle Up: With the Jags checking out draft prospects -- the latest being USC's Matt Barkley -- and trade rumors swirling about Matt Flynn coming to north Florida, it certainly appears there will be extra competition for Chad Henne and Gabbert, who only has 1 300-yard passing game and 4 contests with 2 or more TDs in 2 pro seasons.

Posted: 3/8/2013 12:13am et

Jacksonville Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert is dealing with a nerve injury in his forearm but will not need surgery. He is expected to be fully recovered later this spring.

Huddle Up: Gabbert can't afford any health issues as he's entering a make-or-break third season under a new coaching regime for the third straight season.

Posted: 2/9/2013 7:27pm et

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley said Friday, Feb. 8, that he has visited with QB Blaine Gabbert and he has been very impressed. "We're looking for improvement (in his third year). We need to build around him. We'll upgrade whenever we can upgrade," Bradley said.

Huddle Up: All indications are that the Jaguars' new administration will give Gabbert at least one more season to stake a claim on the starting gig. With the running game switching to a zone-blocking scheme, Jacksonville will have plenty to work on offensively.

Posted: 2/8/2013 11:16pm et

The Jacksonville Jaguars may target Arizona QB Matt Scott on the third day of the NFL Draft because indications are that the Jaguars will give QB Blaine Gabbert another shot to prove he is their starting quarterback. Scott is a favorite of quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo from their days together at Arizona. Many scouts think Scott is a perfect developmental quarterback in the NFL.

Huddle Up: The Jags are hardly settled at quarterback, but it appears as if the new regime wants to give Gabbert one more chance to claim the job. Scott 's familiarity with the Jacksonville quarterbacks coach makes him a logical late-round target, one who could get an opportunity sooner rather than later.

Posted: 2/5/2013 1:45pm et

Jacksonville Jaguars general manager David Caldwell said he is not completely discouraged about QB Blaine Gabbert and believes he could do well with a consistent offensive system. Caldwell noted Gabbert is the second youngest starting quarterback in the NFL and that he likely would be a 2013 first-round pick if he had returned to Missouri this past season.

Huddle Up: Gabbert's first 2 seasons have netted 21 TD passes, 17 interceptions, a 70.2 rating and -- maybe, most alarming -- a 5-19 won-loss record in games he's started. He definitely deserves a chance to compete for the team's starting job in training camp this summer, but beyond that, there are few guarantees for the former 10th overall pick.

Posted: 1/12/2013 10:48am et

Jacksonville Jaguars general manager David Caldwell said the team will look to add some quarterbacks either through free agency or the draft to compete with QB Blaine Gabbert during training camp. "Blaine is the second-youngest quarterback in the NFL, but we're going to have open competition. Whether it's through draft or through free agency, we'll bring in some more people to compete at the quarterback position. We're going to let the best player win that position," Caldwell said.

Huddle Up: Gabbert has yet to prove himself at the NFL level, so despite being a first-round pick he'll need to fight for his job in training camp. There isn't much QB talent available in free agency and the Jags have plenty of other needs to address via the draft so it won't exactly be a star-studded competition. That said, there are no assurances Gabbert will hold off any challengers.

Posted: 11/18/2012 5:44pm et

Jacksonville Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert left the game in the first quarter of because of a right-elbow contusion and did not return.

Huddle Up: Gabbert was replaced by Chad Henne who completed 16-of-33 passes for 354 yards and 4 TDs and nearly led the Jags to a shocking win. Gabbert was 2-for-2 for 24 yards and a lost fumble before the injury, and one really has to wonder who the team's starting QB will be going forward after Henne's big game.

Posted: 11/9/2012 12:10am et

Jacksonville Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert left Thursday night's Week 10 game early in the fourth quarter with what was called a shoulder injury. Gabbert's return was said to be probable, but backup Chad Henne closed out the 27-10 loss.

Huddle Up: Henne (10-of-16, 121 yards, TD, interception) was slightly more effective than Gabbert (18-of-31, 209 yards, 0 TDs, interception), but neither really did much in the Jags' lackluster 27-10 loss. Expect the offensive struggles to continue for the remainder of the season in J'ville, no matter who's playing QB.

Posted: 10/25/2012 11:58pm et

Jacksonville Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert (shoulder) went through his second full day of practice Thursday, Oct. 25, and he's expected to start against the Green Bay Packers in Week 8. 'He's had a good week of work, he really has,' offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said. 'It's been a normal week for him.'

Huddle Up: Gabbert has had no setbacks so he looks to be a go against a Packers squad that will likely put his good (throwing) shoulder to the test.

Posted: 10/24/2012 12:53pm et

Jacksonville Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert (shoulder) is expected to fully participate in practice Wednesday, Oct. 24.

Huddle Up: It looks like Gabbert is on track to start for the Jaguars this week after getting knocked out of last Sunday's game against Oakland. While he is certainly better than Chad Henne, we do not recommend starting him or any other Jaguars save perhaps Rashad Jennings this week.

Posted: 10/23/2012 7:37pm et

Jacksonville Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert (torn labrum in left, non-throwing shoulder) plans to play in Week 8 against the Green Bay Packers unless doctors prevent him from taking the field. QB Chad Henne would receive the start if Gabbert can't go.

Huddle Up: A thumbs-up for Gabbert's desire, but nothing good figures to come of this when factoring in MJD's absence and adding Clay Matthews' pass-rushing skills.

Posted: 10/23/2012 11:55am et

Jacksonville Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert has been diagnosed with a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder.

Huddle Up: Early indications are that Gabbert won't play this week against Green Bay, but no official word on what this injury means for the rest of his season. Fantasy-wise, if you've been banking on Gabbert your season is already over anyway so this won't matter.

Posted: 10/22/2012 3:34pm et

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Mike Mularkey said QB Blaine Gabbert (shoulder) has a good chance to play Week 8 despite suffering a left shoulder injury in Week 7.

Huddle Up: If you are counting on Gabbert to cover a bye this week you might want something more solid than this, hopefully more definitive word by midweek.

Posted: 10/22/2012 12:13pm et

Jacksonville Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert will have an MRI Monday, Oct. 22 on his non-throwing left shoulder. At this time, it appears that no bones are broken.

Huddle Up: Gabbert tried to play through the injury initially but eventually gave way to Chad Henne. The Jags will have to wait and see what the tests reveal before making a plan at the quarterback position going forward.

Posted: 10/22/2012 12:40am et

Updating a previous report, Jacksonville Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert (shoulder) returned to the sidelines in Week 7 against the Oakland Raiders wearing a baseball cap and hoodie, but he did not have his shoulder in a sling.

Huddle Up: Regardless, look for an MRI and other tests Monday to determine if Gabbert or backup Chad Henne, who struggled Sunday in relief, will start in Week 8 at Green Bay.

Posted: 10/21/2012 6:38pm et

Jacksonville Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert (shoulder) left in the second quarter of his team's Week 7 game because of a left shoulder injury and is considered questionable to return.

Huddle Up: Before the injury, Gabbert actually was off to a rare strong start, completing 8-of-12 passes for 110 yards, including a 42-yard scoring strike to Cecil Shorts in the first quarter. Ex-Dolphin Chad Henne was called in in relief.

Posted: 10/8/2012 11:40am et

Jacksonville Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert's starting job is not in jeopardy, according to head coach Mike Mularkey, despite his struggles this season. The Jaguars are now 5-13 in games Gabbert has started. Mularkey said Sunday, Oct. 7, that he is not considering a quarterback change despite Gabbert's struggles in Week 5. The team has former Miami Dolphins QB Chad Henne as the backup.

Huddle Up: There's really no upside to replacing Gabbert with Henne, as the Jaguars don't appear to be heading anywhere as a team. Jacksonville may as well let Gabbert continue to play to see if there's anything salvageable in their former first-round pick; if not, they'll be starting from scratch in the offseason anyway.

Posted: 9/19/2012 6:29pm et

Jacksonville Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert (glute) fully participated in practice Wednesday, Sept. 19.

Huddle Up: A good sign for the Jags' starting QB whose injury forced him to leave in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the Texans. If Gabbert somehow has a setback later in the week, ex-Dolphin Chad Henne would get the starting call Sunday against the Colts.

Posted: 9/17/2012 7:38pm et

Jacksonville Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert (hamstring) is dealing with a hamstring injury, and head coach Mike Mularkey said Gabbert could be limited in practice Wednesday, Sept. 19, but he's expected to start against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 3.

Huddle Up: Backup Chad Henne had to finish Sunday's game after Gabbert left in the fourth quarter. It obviously will be wait and see how much Gabbert can do in practice throughout the week, but don't expect a drastic dropoff in the Jags' offense if Henne has to start.

Posted: 9/16/2012 6:14pm et

Jacksonville Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert (leg) left in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game because of a hamstring injury and did not return.

Huddle Up: Before the injury, Gabbert and the Jags were completely stifled by the Texans, and he finished with only 53 yards and a TD on 7-of-19 passing. Chad Henne finished up.

Posted: 8/29/2012 6:59pm et

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Mike Mularkey said he could be fine if QB Blaine Gabbert runs more often this season. 'I think we need to see him run a little more. There were a couple of times in Baltimore that there were some holes there and we could have made some positive yards. Those are things I think we will get to, but as far as his ability to read defenses and throw in the right place, he has been very good. I think his accuracy has been better. I think a lot of that has to do with his balance in the pocket,' Mularkey said.

Huddle Up: Gabbert rushed for only 98 yards in his rookie season a year ago and didn't account for a TD on the ground. The QB has looked improved this preseason, and knowing when to use your legs and when not to is all part of a young quarterback's maturity process.

Posted: 8/18/2012 7:34pm et

Jacksonville Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert said the critics who say he plays scared in the pocket do not know what they are talking about and could not do his job. 'I think that's part of our job description: Deal with the crap,' Gabbert said. 'But for people to say (I'm scared), I just don't understand it. They've never played in the NFL. They really don't know what goes on, or what happens. So that argument, I think, is just a copout for people to make because they're -- I don't want to necessarily want to say jealous -- but, they couldn't do my job. And that's the truth.'

Huddle Up: Perhaps emboldened by his strong showing against the Saints on Friday night (13-of-16, 112 yards, 2 TDs), the second-year QB is looking and sounding like a different player this preseason. Gabbert essentially was unusable in fantasy leagues last season, but the QB has had a full offseaon and some shiny new wideouts (first-round pick Justin Blackmon and free agent Laurent Robinson) to work with. Don't write him off when looking for a backup in fantasy drafts.