Blaine Gabbert downplayed his increased repetitions with the first-team offense, but that is just his style.

The reality is, the Jaguars have a very real quarterback competition.

David Garrard is still in the lead and will start Friday against the Atlanta Falcons. He made a beautiful throw tonight against the Falcons, hitting Cecil Shorts on a fade route in the corner of the end zone. But Garrard's grip on the starting job is not as definite as it was heading into camp.

It's become apparent from talking to people in the building and by watching Gabbert throughout camp that he has the ability to be an NFL quarterback -- and soon.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard practiced Saturday morning and will practice again Saturday night. Garrard expects to play against Atlanta next Friday.

Garrard might win the early battles with Blaine Gabbert, but he's probably going to lose the war before 2011 is over. Drafting Garrard would be a very dicey proposition.

Quarterback David Garrard has been ruled out for Jacksonville's preseason opener at New England, allowing rookie Blaine Gabbert to start.

Coach Jack Del Rio says the team is simply being cautious with Garrard, who tweaked his back during practice Thursday and hasn't done anything on the field since.

Jaguars quarterback David Garrard would like to be on the field Thursday in New England for the Jaguars first preseason game, but he isn't going to risk aggravating his back injury further.

"I want to be ready tomorrow," Garrard told me this morning. "I can't try to force myself out there and set myself back again."

In the likely event Garrard doesn't start, rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert will start against the New England Patriots. Typically the first exhibition game features first-team offenses and defenses for a short amount of time.

Blaine Gabbert showed flashes of his potential, but also played like a rookie quarterback at times in the Jaguars’ annual intrasquad scrimmage Saturday night.

Gabbert completed 12-of-27 passes for 76 yards and one touchdown before 15,122 fans. Gabbert was a victim of four drops.

Starter David Garrard sat out the practice with a back problem, but Jacksonville head coach Jack Del Rio said Garrard might return as early as Monday.

Although his statistics were average, Del Rio liked Gabbert’s poise.

Due to a back injury, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard won't play in the team's scrimmage tonight.

This gives first-round pick Blaine Gabbert an opportunity to make a positive impression. Garrard has been a respectable QB2 at times during his career, but he's very risky this year as Gabbert could steal some starts from him and Jacksonville has a shaky group of receivers outside of Marcedes Lewis and Mike Thomas.

Jaguars quarterback David Garrard injured his back, then left the practice fields through a back exit during Thursday night's training camp practice.

Despite wearing a red no-contact jersey, as all the Jaguars quarterbacks do, Garrard was knocked down at least once during an 11-on-11 drill late in practice. Garrard received attention from Jaguars trainer Mike Ryan on the sideline before leaving the field.

The Jacksonville Jaguars signed rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert to a contract late today. Gabbert was the 10thoverall pick.

Gabbert, 6-5, 233, was only the second quarterback drafted by the Jaguars in the first round and the fifth overall.

Expect David Garrard to start the season as the #1 QB in Jacksonville and keep the team as long as they are competitive.

Jaguars general manager Gene Smith did not trade up to take Gabbert with the tenth pick in the draft in order to have Gabbert to save the franchise in 2011. He chose him to develop him and play him down the road. Gabbert’s role for the foreseeable future, barring anything unexpected, will be as the No. 2 quarterback to David Garrard.

“Fortunately for us, with David returning as a very capable starter, you don’t have to rush the development of Blaine,” Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio told me. “That’s a good situation. We’re operating from a position of strength as opposed to having to force a guy into duty before he’s ready.”

“In a perfect world, I’d like to see him not have to play this year in terms of having time to develop,” Del Rio said. “That doesn’t mean I would keep him on the bench if I thought he was the best option to win. Ideally he’s able to get that time to develop and really learn the game at this level. I’d love to see Garrard have a nice season, lead us into a playoff position, and then see if we can get hot. Things don’t always happen the way you have them planned though.”

Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert could start Week 1, but it's not realistic considering he’s missed so much time learning their offense because of the lockout. While David Garrard is signed through 2014, the 33-year old signal caller is set to earn $8.475 million for 2012. This year could realistically be his last in Jacksonville.