Nick Foles injury update: Expected to practice next week

After being injured in Week 1, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Nick Foles is expected to practice next week.

After suffering a fractured collarbone in the first quarter of Week 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Nick Foles is nearing a return on schedule. According to Mike Giardi of NFL Network, head coach Doug Marrone said he expects the former Super Bowl MVP to be cleared to practice next week.

Foles signed a four-year, $88 million deal with the Jaguars during the offseason, and he went 5-for-8 for 75 yards and a touchdown in his team debut before being sidelined. He was injured on the touchdown, a 35-yard pass to wide receiver D.J. Chark.

Foles was place on IR after the injury, with the minimum eight-week absence. Jacksonville has a bye in Week 10, so his return could come in Week 11 against the Indianapolis Colts. The earliest he can begin practicing is next week, and so the expected clearance to do so is a good sign.

Sixth-round rookie Gardner Minshew has played pretty well in Foles’ absence, completing nearly 64 percent of his passes for 1,442 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions. But he is coming off his worst game in Week 6, as he went 14-for-29 for 163 yards with no touchdowns and an interception against the New Orleans Saints. He has a nice get-right opportunity against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, with the New York Jets and Houston Texans to follow before the bye week.

If Minshew gets back on track and carries that momentum into the bye, while Foles remains on track to return in Week 11, the Jaguars will have a quarterback controversy on their hands. If Minshew starts to look like a late-round pick rookie, the odds Foles gets reinstalled as the starter to rescue the Jaguars will get better as the next three weeks go on.