Key numbers from Minshew's historic start
To say Gardner Minshew's pro career is off to a hot start is an understatement.
Casual followers of the NFL draft likely weren't overly familiar with Minshew as most of the focus was on Kyler Murray, Daniel Jones, and Dwayne Haskins. The 6-foot-1, 225-pounder was the 10th quarterback chosen this past April when the Jacksonville Jaguars selected him with their sixth-round pick.
Minshew won the backup job in training camp but was firmly behind Nick Foles entering the season. That all changed when Foles broke his collarbone early in Week 1. The Washington State product was subsequently thrust into the starting spot and quickly took the reins.
Here are key numbers from Minshew's historic start that illustrate how he's found immediate success.
Accuracy
Minshew's best trait as a passer has always been his accuracy. In his final collegiate campaign, he led all draft-eligible quarterbacks with an 80.6 adjusted completion percentage, according to Pro Football Focus.
The Flowood, Mississippi, native carried this momentum to the NFL. His 73.8 completion percentage currently ranks third in the league and is the highest mark through a player's first three games in league history.
| Year | Team | Player | Completion percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | JAX | Gardner Minshew | 73.8 |
| 1993 | SEA | Rick Mirer | 70.9 |
| 2007 | BUF | Trent Edwards | 70.5 |
| 1997 | SEA | Jon Kitna | 68.9 |
This season, Minshew has been accurate on 81.4% of his passes, per PFF, which ranks him sixth among quarterbacks with more than one start.
In his debut, the 23-year-old completed 22 of 25 passes and set an NFL record with 13 straight completions to begin a career.
Minshew ranks near the middle of the pack averaging 7.9 yards per attempt, but he's making his throws count. The rookie's 100.6 passer rating is the highest through a quarterback's first three games in the Super Bowl era.
Deep passing and under pressure
The former Pac-12 star has illustrated much more than an ability to string together short throws through three weeks. Though he's attempted passes of more than 20 yards in the air at a lesser rate than some of the NFL's elite, Minshew was accurate on 70% of deep passes (third among quarterbacks) and earned a 137.5 passer rating (ranking sixth) on such attempts.
| Passing distance | Completion % | TD-INT | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short (Behind LOS-10 yards) | 78% | 0-1 | 82.54 |
| Intermediate (11-20 yards) | 77% | 4-0 | 147.44 |
| Deep (20+ yards) | 60% | 1-0 | 137.5 |
The Jaguars aren't known for their stout offensive line despite a desire to be a power run team. However, Minshew is completing a respectable 55.6% of his attempts while under pressure and ranks eighth at his position with a 99.6 rating, per PFF.
Foles is targeting a Week 11 return to the lineup, but Jacksonville will have every chance to compete in a wide-open AFC South if Minshew continues his high level of play.