Gabbert gets starting role for Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Blaine Gabbert, even with an injured thumb, has been tabbed the starting quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars when the season opens Sept. 8.

Jaguars first-year Coach Gus Bradley said Monday it was going with Gabbert over Chad Henne.

However, Gabbert will likely miss the final two pre-season games because of a hairline fracture in his right (throwing) thumb. Bradley said Gabbert is expected to be healthy when Jacksonville opens the regular season at home against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Gabbert was injured in Saturday pre-season game against the New York Jets. Before getting hurt he completed 13-of-16 passes for 165 yards. Henne came on and hit 4-of-10 passes for 30 yards.

Gabbert, who played collegiately at Missouri, was the 10th overall selection in the 2011 draft. In 25 NFL games since then, he's completed 372-of-691 passes for 21 touchdowns with 17 interceptions.

He was the Jacksonville starter for the first 10 games of last season before a right forearm injury ended his season. Henne, who is in his sixth NFL season, started the rest of the season.