Skip to content

Coughlin: Bortles, Jaguars have a lot of work to do

Troy Taormina / USA TODAY Sports

The Jacksonville Jaguars new vice president of football operations, Tom Coughlin, held a media session Friday on the state of the franchise, and he had pointed remarks about starting quarterback Blake Bortles.

Bortles is the assumed starter, but Coughlin said the third-year pro has to show marked improvement in 2017.

"There's plenty of work for everybody to do, Blake included," Coughlin said, according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN. " ... There can be no way the ball is turned over to that extent, so I think he'd be the first one to say that he has a lot of work to do. But we all have a lot of work to do, so I'm going to put it that way."

Bortles regressed from a stellar 2015 season to a disappointing 2016, throwing 16 interceptions and coughing up six fumbles. The Jaguars finished 3-13, prompting changes both to the team's coaching staff and management.

The upcoming season will be a pivotal one for Bortles as he's entering the final year of his rookie contract.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox