Bortles: Week 13 benching 'big-picture' move for Jaguars

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles will be on the bench for the start of Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts after Cody Kessler was named this week's starter by head coach Doug Marrone.

The third overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft said he understands the decision and why the team may be choosing to look forward.

"I think that is definitely big-picture, but not necessarily something that I'm worried about right now," Bortles said of his future with the team, according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN.

Bortles signed a three-year extension through the 2020 season before the start of the current campaign. He's carrying a cap hit of just $10 million this year, but it would cost the Jaguars $16.5 million in dead cap space to cut Bortles before the start of the 2019 league year on March 13 at 4 p.m. ET, and $11.5 million if done after June 1.

The fifth-year pro is tied for eighth in the league in interceptions and ranks 30th among 34 qualified quarterbacks in passer rating this season. The Jaguars, who sit fourth in the AFC South with a 3-8-0 record through 12 weeks, have had just one winning season with Bortles at the helm.

"I put myself in this position and I didn't play good enough," Bortles sad. "Didn't win football games. Couldn't find a way to get it done. And when that happens, it's a business and everybody understands that. I don't think there's anything personal involved. As a quarterback, I think you have one job and that's to win a football game. And if you don't do that, your time's probably limited."

The 25-year-old Kessler, the 93rd overall pick of the Cleveland Browns in the 2016 draft, will make his first start since 2016. He completed 21 of 30 attempts for 156 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in a second-half appearance against the Houston Texans in Week 7.

Copyright (C) 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.