Gardner Minshew’s Legend Grows as Jags Down Titans on “TNF”

Minshew completed 20 of 30 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns

Gardner Minshew's Legend Grows as Jags Down Titans on "TNF"
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew II. (Harry Aaron/Getty)
Getty Images

On Thursday Night Football, Gardner Minshew II turned in his third consecutive impressive performance for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Forced into action in Week 1 after Nick Foles suffered a broken collarbone, the sixth-round pick was masterful on Thursday against the Tennessee Titans and completed 20 of 30 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns.

Whenever Minshew and the Jacksonville offense took the field, fans chanted his name and there were fake mustaches and bandanas aplenty in the stands.

The love for Minshew is justified as he’s now completed 65 of 88 (73.9 percent) passes for 792 yards (9.0 per attempt), five touchdowns and one pick since taking over for Foles.

During the game, the announcers touched on Minshew being a “II” instead of a “Jr.”

A 2018 story in The Lewiston Tribune explains Gardner’s mother “didn’t want him to be a Junior … because down here in Mississippi, if you’re a Junior, you’re probably either called Junior or Bubba.”

Minshew’s hot start is no surprise to fans of Washington State, who saw him lead the nation in passing, break Jared Goff’s single-season Pac-12 yardage record and finished fifth in Heisman balloting.

After the game, the internet was flooded with praise for the rookie quarterback from Minshew maniacs.

On the other side of the ball, Jacksonville lineman Calais Campbell led the defense and helped the Jaguars sack Marcus Mariota nine times (including three by Campbell) en route to a 20-7 win.

Subscribe here for our free daily newsletter.

The InsideHook Newsletter.

News, advice and insights for the most interesting person in the room.