JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio is sticking with his starting quarterback. This time, he really means it.
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Del Rio said rookie Blaine Gabbert will start Monday night's game against the San Diego Chargers.
Del Rio backed Gabbert after Sunday's 20-13 loss to Houston Texans, but since the coach showed similar support for David Garrard before cutting him during the week of the opener, there was speculation he would return to veteran Luke McCown as his starter.
"I would just say that, right now, Blaine's the quarterback," Del Rio said Monday. "He's doing some things that are pretty good at times and he's doing some things that he'll need to do better going forward.
"He's not the only one on the field. There are other people that need to do things, whether it be blocking, running routes or catching the ball that will help him have better days and will help us have better days. Clearly, the head coach and the quarterback are the two people that are directly tied to winning and losing, and if you don't win, then those are the two people who are going to hear the most."
Gabbert completed 13 of 29 passes for 136 yards, with an interception, against the Texans. He was sacked a season-high six times, showing more indecision in the pocket.
Del Rio benched the 22-year-old former Missouri standout midway through the fourth quarter, putting the offense in McCown's hands for the final two drives. McCown provided a spark by leading the team to a field goal, but his fourth-down pass in the closing minutes fell incomplete, and the Jaguars (3-8) were all but eliminated from AFC South title contention.
McCown finished 7-of-11 passing for 62 yards.
"I know my abilities. This team knows my abilities," Gabbert said after the game. "We've just got to execute. It's a team sport. Everybody has got to do their job on a daily basis and we'll go up. But right now we're not doing that and we're losing football games."
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
