QB’s Blake Bortles and Johnny Manziel Have Impressive Debuts

Rookie Quarterbacks Blake Bortles and Johnny Manziel both had good preseason debuts last week. Bortles helped the Jacksonville Jaguars defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 16-10. Bortles completed 7 out of 11 passes for 117 yards. Bortles 31-yard pass to Mike Brown help setup a field goal to give the Jags a 10-3 lead over the Bucs. Starting QB Chad Henne completed 4 out of 7 passes for 30 yards, Henne fumbled the ball twice and was able to recover both of them.

Bortles was the number three overall pick in this year’s draft from the University of Central Florida. It’s only preseason and Bortles commanded the Jags offense and look very poised on the field. Bortles wasn’t drafted to sit on the bench. If he isn’t the opening day starter, he should be the Jags starting QB no later than week eight.

Manziel completed 7 out of 11 passes for 63 yards for the Cleveland Browns, the Detroit Lions defeated the Browns 13-12. Manziel led the Browns with 27 yards rushing and had a 16-yard run. Starting QB Brian Hoyer completed 6 out of 14 passes for 92 yards. Manziel was drafted by the Browns with the 22nd overall pick in this year’s draft out of Texas A&M University. Manziel was projected to go higher in the draft and the Browns were lucky to draft him.

Manziel will eventually become the Browns starting QB and he still has plenty of opportunity to earn the starting position during preseason. Manziel and Bortles give both franchises hope that are in need of reliable QB’s, they both have the potential to become the future stars of the NFL.

Photo Credit: Phil Sears/USA Today.com (photo1), Rick Osentoski/AP (photo2)