JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Blaine Gabbert has a starting job -- if hes healthy. Jacksonville Jaguars coach Gus Bradley named Gabbert his starting quarterback Monday, the same day he announced the former Missouri standout will miss the rest of the preseason because of a broken thumb. Gabbert has a hairline fracture in his right thumb, an injury sustained during Saturday nights 37-13 exhibition loss to the New York Jets. Gabbert completed 13 of 16 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown in three series -- arguably his best showing in three years. He banged his hand on a defenders helmet during his final throw. Gabbert wont need surgery, but he will wear a protective brace while the bone heals. The Jaguars believe he should be able to return to practice in two weeks and be ready for the Sept. 8 opener against Kansas City. "Normally a break would require surgery or six to eight weeks," Bradley said. "Its not the same with this injury. They feel like in two weeks he should have a chance to come back and begin his prep for Kansas City." The Jaguars insisted all off-season that Gabbert and Chad Henne were competing for the starting job. But many outsiders believe the scenario was created to put extra pressure and strain on Gabbert, and see how he would respond. Although Gabbert struggled at times in practice and did little in the preseason opener, his performance Saturday night was enough to convince Jacksonvilles coaching staff that hes the guy. Bradley doesnt anticipate a quick change, either. "The reason why we took this length of time is so that we would have some conviction and to stay strong," said Bradley, who was part of Seattles staff that stuck with rookie Russell Wilson last season. "Russell, as the quarterback in the first couple of games, had to go through some learning and some growing, and that conviction was in place. I think it was really good for me to see how that entire process took place and the conviction and the support you need." Gabbert, the 10th overall pick in the 2011 draft, is coming off consecutive seasons in which Jacksonville had significant issues around him. He had no off-season as a rookie because of the NFL lockout, was thrown into the starting lineup in Week 3 and played with one of the worst receiving corps in the league. He was expected to show improvement last year, but he played behind a patchwork offensive line and with two young receivers in Cecil Shorts III and Justin Blackmon. Jacksonville also lost star running back Maurice Jones-Drew to a season-ending foot injury in October. Maybe the biggest difference this year is offensive co-ordinator Jedd Fischs scheme. Having worked in a spread offence in college, Gabbert seems more comfortable in Fischs system, which focuses on reading defences before the snap and making quick decisions and throws. "Its very quarterback-friendly and it puts a lot of responsibility on our shoulders because we do so much stuff at the line of scrimmage," Gabbert said. "It makes it fun for the quarterback to know that you have the ability to do some things." Gabbert has completed 54 per cent of his passes for 3,876 yards, with 21 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, in two seasons. He is 5-19 as a starter. "Its a nice opportunity, but it doesnt end here," Gabbert said. "Gus always preaches competition every day and we compete against each other, but were still going to go out there and put your best foot forward regardless of the situation." Henne, who will start Saturdays preseason game against Philadelphia, handled the decision well. "From my standpoint, its disappointing," Henne said. "But Im going to be the same person. Im going to keep competing each and every day, try to better myself. Im behind this team 100 per cent. Im behind Blaine. Whatever I can do to help is what Im going to do." 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Green wowed `em with incredible catches and showed the crowd in London what everyone back home knows -- hes nearly impossible to cover.Tyler Eifert was back in the flow, getting into the end zone when the Bengals needed it most.Even with all of that, the best they could do was tie.Cincinnatis first visit to London summed up its season on a football pitch. Whatever worked last season when the Bengals won the AFC North has somehow evaporated a year later.The Bengals won their first eight games last season. Since then, theyve gone 7-9-1, including a first-round playoff loss to Pittsburgh. Theyve slipped back into the huge pack of mid-level NFL teams.A 27-27 tie with Washington on Sunday left them 3-4-1, the first time theyve had a losing record at seasons midpoint since 2012. The tie against Washington especially stung, given how many chances they had to pull it out in both the fourth quarter and overtime.Opportunities, but just let it slip away, said quarterback Andy Dalton, who fumbled away a chance in overtime.Its been that way all season.The Bengals have been one of the healthiest teams in the league, which should be a big advantage for the defending division champs. Theyve shown flashes of their 2015 form, and then self-destructed with a bad play on offense or another defensive breakdown that prevented them from taking control of the game.Green and Dalton are having solid seasons again. Eifert, who set a club record for tight ends with 13 touchdown catches last season, is finally back from ankle surgery and putting his imprint on the offense. He had nine catches for 102 yards and a touchdown in his first significant playing time. Green had nine catches for 121 yards.But the offense couldnt take advantage of its opportunities in overtime, fritteering away the last one when Dalton fumbled on a keeper.dddddddddddd He also had a costly interception, something rare for him this season.Thats not the worst of it, though. The defense remains subpar even though linebacker Vontaze Burfict is back in form after serving a three-game suspension from the NFL for illegal hits. Kirk Cousins threw for a season-high 458 yards at Wembley Stadium, and Washington piled up 546 yards in all.It was the third time in the past four games that the defense allowed more than 400 yards. The only team that didnt hit the mark was Cleveland, which lost another quarterback and ran for 180 yards in Cincinnatis only win during that stretch.The defense that gave up the second-fewest points in the league last season and finished 11th in yards allowed. It has slipped to 24th overall in yards allowed. If they stay on course, it would be their worst showing defensively since 2007, the year before Mike Zimmer was hired as the coordinator.Game notes The Bengals had the day off after returning from London. Theyll meet on Tuesday and then go into their bye week. ... Eifert was on the field for 74 of the 88 plays, a significant upgrade. He returned against Cleveland and was in for only 15 plays. ... LT Andrew Whitworth sustained a concussion in the game against Cleveland, was cleared from the protocol on Thursday, and was on the field for all 88 plays on Sunday. ... The Bengals stayed with their plan of alternating at right tackle, which has been a problem spot. Cedric Ogbuehi was in for two out of three series, with Eric Winston playing the third series.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '