There has been a debate for weeks about whether the Jacksonville Jaguars should continue to go into the coming season with Blake Bortles. This decision may be taken away from them: Bortles’ contract could become a guarantee due to injury.
According to several media reports, Bortles underwent surgery on his wrist on Friday. The problems with the wrist had already plagued the quarterback for the whole season, and Jacksonville also consistently listed him on the Injury Report. According to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, he had already contracted the injury in December 2016.
For Jacksonville, this could become a serious problem: the Jaguars have long since opted for the fifth contract year for Bortles’ rookie contract, which would tie the quarterback to the team for $19 million in 2018.
Nevertheless, it was openly speculated about a dismissal, which would be technically possible: The contract option is only guaranteed in the event of infringement. In plain language, this means that Bortles is to be delivered immediately before the deadline on 14 June. to pass a medical check-up on March 9th.
The operation could change the situation completely now, because if Bortles is not fully restored by mid-March as a result of the intervention, his salary for the 2018 season would be completely guaranteed – and Jacksonville would at least be financially tied to his hands in the free agency quarterback market.