Jaguars to start rookie QB Jake Luton vs. Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Marrone told reporters on Monday that he's going with rookie and sixth-round draft pick Jake Luton as his starting quarterback coming off the bye week for this Sunday's game against the Houston Texans. 

First-choice signal-caller Gardner Minshew has been dealing with a lingering right thumb issue since an Oct. 11 game against Houston but played through the Week 7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. That was Jacksonville's sixth consecutive defeat and dropped the Jaguars to 1-6 overall. 

It was previously thought that journeyman veteran Mike Glennon would start if Minshew was unable to go against the Texans. ESPN's Michael DiRocco is reporting Minshew is out indefinitely with a fracture and ligament damage in the thumb on his throwing hand. 

"I didn't feel that Jake might have been ready right away to bring him up there, so Mike had the experience so we brought him up there [to be the No. 2 QB each week]," Marrone told reporters. "And then Jake's done a nice job. I think Jake has a high ceiling, and that's my opinion of him. I mean, not to take anything away from Mike, I've got a ton of respect for him, and I told that to Mike. I just want to see where this kid's at.

"Might as well look. Might as well see what we have. Go ahead and play him and let's go."

With the Jaguars closer to earning the first pick of next year's draft and the right to select Clemson Tigers superstar QB Trevor Lawrence than to a playoff berth, Marrone giving a rookie the keys to the offense makes sense. There will be no rush to get Minshew back into the offense if Jacksonville remains near the basement of the league's overall standings through the start of the holiday season.