First-round draft pick quarterback Blaine Gabbert was among 28 Jacksonville Jaguars players who practiced together at an area high school.

Gabbert, the 10th pick overall out of Missouri, spent much of the hour and a half practice taking instruction from starting quarterback David Garrard and throwing to a variety of receivers, including Cecil Shorts III, the Jags' fourth-round pick.

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The Jaguars would be better suited to play Blaine Gabbert as soon as possible as they have no future and a sizable investment in David Garrard and it's better to get the rookie's bumps and bruises out of the way early, rather than put the future on hold just in the hopes of collecting another .500 season at best.

The Jaguars created an instant quarterback controversy Thursday night by making a bold move to trade up for Blaine Gabbert, who is now their quarterback of the future.

The Jaguars dealt their second-round pick to Washington to trade up six spots (10th overall) and take Gabbert, who will eventually replace David Garrard as the team’s starting quarterback. The question is when the transition will take place. both coach Jack Del Rio and general Gene Smith stressed that Garrard is still the starter.

“Our intention is to have David as our quarterback and have Blaine come in and push David,’’ Del Rio said. “David is our quarterback," Smith said. “We’ve got Luke McCown behind him. He’s a proven starter."

While Jack Del Rio may be saying David Garrard is the starter for now, it will only be a matter of time before the reins are handed over to Blaine Gabbert. The Jaguars could take the smart rout and let Gabbert hold a clipboard for most of 2011.

The Jaguars have officially placed quarterback David Garrard (hand) on injured reserve.

Jaguars QB David Garrard (right finger) has been ruled out for week 17. Trent Edwards will get the start for the Jaguars. While Edwards would not normally be a fantasy option, the Jaguars are playing the leagues worst secondary in the Texans, allowing 277 passing yards per contest. A big day is not out of the question.

At one point in Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins, Jaguars quarterback David Garrard remembers picking yellow paint off the fingers on his throwing hand.

By then, the damage was already done.

Garrard will have surgery in Jacksonville today to repair a torn ligament in the middle finger of his right hand. He will miss Sunday's season finale in Houston and any playoff games should the Jaguars make the postseason. Trent Edwards will start in Garrard's place.

"I feel confident in him. I know he'll do a fine job," Garrard said. "I thought actually it would be a simple, quick process and be out rehabbing it in a couple weeks. But it's actually quite a lengthy process."

Garrard said the rehab on his finger will take about two months.

The quarterback was one of four Jaguars players who didn't practice Wednesday. Running back Maurice Jones-Drew, linebacker Justin Durant and receiver Mike Sims-Walker missed practice as well. Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said of those four, Sims-Walker is the "most likely" to return.

Jaguars QB David Garrard (right finger) did not practice Wednesday. Garrard is undergoing surgery on his finger. Trent Edwards will start. The matchup is great, but no Jaguars are safe with Edwards under center.

Jags QB David Garrard will miss Week 17 due to a finger injury.

About 2,000 fans were at the airport on Saturday to cheer off the Jaguars, who can win the AFC South with a win today. The Colts haven’t been swept by a division rival in eight seasons. Five of the past six meetings have been decided by four points or less. However, the Jaguars’ two biggest offensive stars, QB David Garrard and RB Maurice Jones-Drew, missed a lot of practice time this week because of hamstring and knee injuries, respectively.

There is some concern about Jacksonville QB David Garrard's hamstring, but expect him to play.