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Jaguars likely start Garrard again on Sunday

Oct 31, 2006 - 8:40 PM Tennessee (2-5) at Jacksonville (4-3) Sunday 1:00 pm EST

JACKSONVILLE, Florida (Ticker) -- Jacksonville Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio did not tip his hand, but Byron Leftwich let it be known that David Garrard will make his second straight start at quarterback on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

Del Rio was without Leftwich due to an ankle injury in last week's 13-6 win at Philadelphia. Garrard ran the offense efficiently in Leftwich's absence, completing 10-of-17 passes for 87 yards and adding in some timely runs.

Del Rio wanted to keep the Titans guessing as to who the starter would be this weekend, but Leftwich informed reporters on Thursday that Del Rio was sticking with Garrard.

"All I know is I won't be the starter on Sunday," Leftwich said. "So now is the time to get the ankle healthy. But me, personally, I'd be lying to you if I said I couldn't start. I feel I could go out there and play well."

Leftwich was listed as probable on Wednesday, but has since been downgraded to questionable.

Garrard took all the first-team snaps in practice this week.

With Garrard last week, the Jaguars rushed for 209 yards against the Eagles. Fred Taylor rushed for 103 yards and rookie Maurice Jones-Drew added 77.

Garrard won four of his five starts last season after Leftwich went down with a broken leg.

One of Garrard's wins came at the expense of the Titans in a 40-13 victory in the regular-season finale here. He played just the first half and completed 10-of-16 passes for 128 yards before giving way to Quinn Gray.

In the first meeting between the teams on November 20, Leftwich threw for three touchdowns to lead the Jaguars to a 31-28 victory.

The quarterback job in Tennessee clearly belongs to first-round pick Vince Young, who is 2-2 since taking over for veteran Kerry Collins.

Young has helped lead the Titans to consecutive victories, the club's first winning streak since the 2003 season.

Last week, Young completed just 7-of-15 passes for 87 yards and a touchdown in a 28-22 victory over Houston. He also ran 20 yards for a score.

Tennessee has not won three in a row since a six-game run in 2003.