Multiple Jaguars players suggested Wednesday that Blake Bortles rather than Kessler would likely serve as the team's starting quarterback Week 17 against the Texans, Mark Long of the Associated Press reports.

EDGE Analysis

After Bortles floundered through the first 11 games of the season, Kessler was handed the No. 1 gig beginning in Week 13 but hasn't provided much of a lift to the Jacksonville offense. Though he's only tossed one interception over his four starts, Kessler has struggled to move the chains, completing just 63.4 of his throws for a lowly 5.5 yards per attempt. A shoulder injury contributed to Kessler's demise in the Week 16 win over the Dolphins, resulting in his brief removal from the contest before he returned and was pulled again for performance reasons. Expect coach Doug Marrone to provide clarity later Wednesday on whether it's Kessler or Bortles that receives the final starting assignment of 2018, though neither signal-caller appears to be a great candidate to enter 2019 atop the depth chart.

Kessler completed 12 of 17 passes for 106 yards during Sunday's 17-7 win over the Dolphins. He also rushed once for two yards and lost one fumble.

EDGE Analysis

Kessler briefly left the field in the second quarter after suffering a shoulder contusion, but was able to return for the start of the second half. Despite managing to retake the field, Kessler was then quickly benched for Blake Bortles due to continued sloppy play. The 25-year-old's most egregious mistake of the day came during the first half, when he simply lost hold of the football without a defender anywhere near him, resulting in a turnover -- but repeatedly missing open receivers and simple passes are what ultimately resulted in Kessler being benched. It remains to be seen whether Kessler or Bortles will start under center Week 17.

Kessler will start the second half of Sunday's game against the Dolphins after exiting with a right shoulder contusion late in the second quarter, John Reid of The Florida Times-Union reports.

EDGE Analysis

Kessler got hurt after being driven hard into the ground by Dolphins pass rusher Robert Quinn. Blake Bortles replaced him for two plays, but Kessler appears content to return to the contest and play through the shoulder issue.

Kessler completed nine of 17 passes for 57 yards and an interception while adding 68 yards on six carries and losing a fumble in Sunday's 16-13 loss to Washington.

EDGE Analysis

Kessler's performance was reminiscent of the ones we saw from the man he replaced under center earlier this season, as he was surprisingly effective on the ground while struggling as a passer and battling turnover issues. His interception with 2:41 remaining proved especially costly, as it helped set up Washington's game-winning field goal on the ensuing drive. It remains to be seen whether this performance was bad enough to make Jacksonville turn back to Blake Bortles against the Dolphins in Week 16.

Coach Doug Marrone said he isn't thinking about benching Kessler for Blake Bortles, Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Jaguars have scored just 15 points in Kessler's two starts, hamstrung by his inability to make accurate throws downfield. Of course, Bortles was a disaster in his own right for most of the season, and it's not like Kessler got any help from his teammates during Thursday's 30-9 to Tennessee. It is possible Marrone re-evaluates the situation if things don't improve Week 15 against Washington.

Kessler completed 25 of 43 passes for 240 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions in the Jaguars' 30-9 loss to the Titans on Thursday. He also rushed five times for 17 yards and lost a fumble.

EDGE Analysis

Kessler committed the first turnover of his two-game starting tenure when he fumbled after a sack on the Titans' 35-yard line with 5:50 remaining in the third quarter. Otherwise, he turned in a serviceable enough stat line, but he couldn't come anywhere close to making up for the deficiencies of a surprisingly vulnerable defense. The third-year signal-caller did improve several of his numbers from his Week 13 effort against the Colts, and he showed particularly strong chemistry with Dede Westbrook, who he connected with on seven occasions for 84 yards and a touchdown. Kessler has done nothing to lose his grip on the starting job, so he'll presumably be under center again versus the Redskins in a Week 15 battle on Dec. 16.

Kessler completed 18 of 24 passes for 150 yards without a touchdown or interception and rushed five times for 28 yards in Sunday's 6-0 win over the Colts.

EDGE Analysis

Kessler avoided any major mistakes and did just enough to win in a game that saw neither team find the end zone. He left to get checked for a concussion at one point, but got the all-clear to return. While the defense is largely responsible for this win, Kessler likely did enough to maintain Jacksonville's starting quarterback job for Thursday's Week 14 Thursday clash with the Titans over benched alternative Blake Bortles.

Kessler will replace Blake Bortles as the starting quarterback for Week 13 against the Colts, John Oehser of the Jaguars' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Jaguars will blow things up after a seventh consecutive loss, benching their long-time starter at quarterback and firing offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. It isn't clear the changes represent any kind of upgrade, as Hackett played a big role in the team's success last season, while Kessler hasn't started a game since 2016 when he went 0-8 with the Browns. The 2016 third-round pick did replace Bortles in the second half of a 20-7 loss to the Texans on Oct. 21, completing 21 of 30 passes for 156 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Kessler is a bottom-10 quarterback option for Week 13, despite drawing a decent matchup against a Colts defense ranked 21st in opponent passer rating (97.9).

Kessler will get reps with the first-team offense in practice this week, but the Jaguars will stick with Blake Bortles as their starter for Sunday's game against the Eagles in London, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Kessler failed to impress after replacing Bortles in the third quarter of Sunday's 20-7 loss to the Texans, completing 21 of 30 passes for 156 yards with a touchdown, an interception and four sacks. The Jaguars aren't quite ready to make a change, but there's real risk of another in-game substitution if Bortles struggles during the London game. The team may also reassess the situation during a Week 9 bye.

Kessler completed 21 of 30 passes for 156 yards, a touchdown and an interception while adding eight yards on two carries in Sunday's 20-7 loss to the Texans.

EDGE Analysis

Kessler inherited a 20-0 deficit in the third quarter after replacing an ineffective Blake Bortles. He was able to get a touchdown back with a six-yard pass to T.J. Yeldon on a play that was reversed after originally being ruled an illegal forward pass. Unfortunately for Kessler, he was later picked off on a pass that bounced off Yeldon's hands. Despite outplaying Bortles here, Kessler will likely be back in a backup role when the Jaguars travel to London to face the Eagles in Week 8.