Minshew: 'I proved I can be a guy in this league for a long, long time'

With Jacksonville Jaguars veteran quarterback Nick Foles set to start in Week 11 after being activated from injured reserve, rookie Gardner Minshew has been relegated to backup duties.

Nonetheless, Minshew believes he did enough during his eight-game run as the starter to show he belongs.

"I think I proved I can be a guy in this league for a long, long time," Minshew said Wednesday, according to ESPN's Michael DiRocco. "I think they believe that. And there's other things we're going to get better at so the next time I do get this opportunity, I'll be ready and I'll be better and we're all going to progress together."

Minshew stepped in after Foles went down with a broken collarbone early in Week 1. The rookie completed his first 13 passes in the pros and finished that debut going 22-for-25 passing with 275 yards and two touchdowns.

Over the next eight weeks, the sixth-round pick went 4-4 as a starter, keeping the Jaguars in the playoff hunt in Foles' absence. In all, Minshew completed 61.2% of his throws for 2,285 yards, 13 touchdowns, and four interceptions.

"I was disappointed (at going back to the bench) at little bit, obviously, because everybody wants to be that guy in the huddle," Minshew added. "But if you told me at the beginning of the year that I'd get to play half the season and learn I'd say I'd take that deal 100%. I got a lot of good experience and mostly get to learn from one of the best dudes in the business."