Jaguars place Foles on injured reserve after surgery

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Nick Foles will head to the injured reserve after undergoing surgery on his broken clavicle Monday, head coach Doug Marrone announced, according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN.

By rule, Foles is required to miss at least eight weeks. The Jaguars will then have the option of using one of their two IR-return spots on the veteran.

Marrone said he expects Foles to return at some point this season.

The loss of Foles is a huge blow to the Jaguars, who gave the passer a four-year, $88-million contract in free agency to be the final piece of their talented roster.

With Foles sidelined for half the season at minimum, Jacksonville will turn to rookie Gardner Minshew as its new starter.

The sixth-round pick impressed after taking over in the first quarter Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, completing 22-of-25 passes for 275 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in the 40-26 loss.

"I feel better about him now, today, after Week 1 than I did probably during the preseason. I think that's fair to say. I think the work during the preseason was able to get him ready for things like this. I don't know, I'm hoping that's the case," head coach Doug Marrone said, according to Forbes' Debbi Taylor.

Marrone added, "It's very difficult for any backup quarterback to go out there because they don't take any reps during the week. He didn't take any reps against Kansas City's defense and went out there and performed."

The Jaguars reportedly acquired quarterback Josh Dobbs from the Pittsburgh Steelers to serve as Minshew's new backup.

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