Jan 21, 2018; Foxborough, MA, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles had surgery on his right wrist last Friday for an injury suffered in December 2016. Schefter says that the Jaguars “elected to avoid surgery last offseason, but knew it was needed now,” and specifically called the wrist injury a “small tear” in his article on the news.

Bortles dealt with the issue in his throwing wrist since early December of 2016. The Jaguars elected to avoid surgery last offseason and treat the injury with a variety of shots. The shots became less effective into the season and the need for surgery inevitable.

The surgery repaired a small tear and full recovery is expected.

And yes, that’s Bortles’ throwing wrist.

Even being aware of this wrist injury last May, the Jaguars chose to pick up Bortles’ fifth-year option for 2018 at $19 million. And as Schefter noted Monday night, the money becomes fully guaranteed for injury if Bortles can’t pass a physical before the new league year starts in March.

The Jaguars’ decision to pick up Bortles’ fifth-year option was somewhat of a gamble because the contract was guaranteed for injury, meaning he would be owed the full amount if he cannot pass a physical before the league year starts.

Bortles’ $19.053 million salary for the 2018 season becomes fully guaranteed if he’s on Jacksonville’s roster the first day of the league year in March; the Jaguars are prohibited from cutting Bortles while he is hurt or recovering from an injury.

So, we’re now left with many questions. Such as…

Will Bortles be healthy when the new league year rolls around in March?

That specific date is March 14, and factoring in when he had surgery, we’re looking at a 6-7 week timetable.

Why didn’t the Jaguars just choose to go with surgery after the 2016 season ended?

Schefter reports that the Jaguars chose to go with “a variety of shots,” but the shots “became less effective into the [2017] season.” Still, it’s now worth wondering if the Jaguars only made things worse by waiting.

Is it possible that the injury impacted Bortles’ performance in 2017 and he’s actually better than he’s shown?

It would seem to be very possible, right? Even a *small* tear on the throwing wrist could be a pretty big deal to a quarterback. Sure, he was getting shots and pain relief for it, and adrenaline will usually take over on Sundays. But perhaps it hindered him to at least some degree in 2017. Then again, his numbers were better in 2017 than 2016, and it was without star wide receiver Allen Robinson to throw to.

Even if Bortles is 100%, do the Jaguars even want him as their starting quarterback in 2018?

This is of course the biggest question (wrist injury or not). Bortles played efficient football in the playoffs, with Jacksonville winning two games — including a shocking upset at Pittsburgh — and only losing by four points at New England in the AFC Championship Game.

But to take the next step and potentially be a team that can host an AFC Championship Game themselves, the Jaguars absolutely need better play from the quarterback position. This is an elite defense with an elite rushing attack led by Leonard Fournette, and their offense will likely have more weapons next season with Allen Robinson returning from his ACL injury (he’s a free agent; expected to be franchise-tagged if no long-term deal reached).

We know that Bortles — the No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 draft — has the ability to be a good NFL quarterback, but to this point he hasn’t shown enough consistency for a win-now team to feel confident in entering the 2018 season. Perhaps a healthy throwing wrist could help Bortles there, but you’d still have to think the Jaguars will look outside the organization — likely Alex Smith or Kirk Cousins — to try to upgrade the position and be one of next year’s Super Bowl favorites.

UPDATE: NFL.Com’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Jaguars still plan on Bortles being their quarterback in 2018.

About Matt Clapp

Matt is an editor at The Comeback. He attended Colorado State University, wishes he was Saved by the Bell's Zack Morris, and idolizes Larry David. And loves pizza and dogs because obviously.

He can be followed on Twitter at @Matt2Clapp (also @TheBlogfines for Cubs/MLB tweets and @DaBearNecess for Bears/NFL tweets), and can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.