By Hays Carlyon

We can say it’s only the preseason.

But, why would anyone expect the regular season to be any different for Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles?

The fourth-year veteran needed to impress in Thursday night’s second preseason game against visiting Tampa Bay.

Instead, he fell apart. Again. Against a Buccaneers defense that wasn’t specifically game-planning to stop him.

Bortles’ hellish week began with Jaguars coach Doug Marrone replacing him with backup Chad Henne in Sunday’s practice. The end could’ve come Thursday.

Yes, he didn’t throw a pick. But anyone watching the game can see Bortles simply isn’t deserving of being a starting quarterback in the NFL.

Ask yourself this question Bortles’ supporters, if there are any more of you out there.

If the Jaguars cut Bortles on Friday, would any other team pick him up?

I’d be shocked if one was interested.

Let’s review:

*Bortles has massive accuracy issues.

*He can’t mentally get ahead of a defense.

*His mechanics are unreliable.

*Marrone said he had a tired arm after the first preseason game.

Bortles’ days as a starter in the NFL are over. But, he doesn’t even merit backup consideration. How bad would he look with another team with fewer reps? All he has is athleticism and size.

Marrone probably sensed this meltdown coming. The Jaguars were telling reporters before the game that Henne would get work with the first team.

Marrone can’t keep playing Bortles and maintain his credibility with the locker room.

The franchise can’t afford to risk Bortles getting hurt and having his $19-million fifth-year option become guaranteed.

Can you imagine paying this man $19 million to play quarterback? It’s amazing to think the Bortles we saw last season and this preseason threw 35 touchdowns in 2015.

He overthrew Allen Robinson on a deep ball early in Thursday’s game. Bortles then grossly underthrew Robinson on another deep ball that fell incomplete. He threw way behind a receiver coming across the field.

Bortles completed eight passes for 65 yards.

So, what now?

Henne should be the starter, with Brandon Allen the backup. Henne is a 10-year veteran with 53 starts in the league. He’s thrown 58 touchdowns and 63 picks.

His marching orders will be to manage the game and not single-handily blow it. That’s a task Bortles can’t be trusted with.

I just can’t see the Jaguars signing Colin Kaepernick and risking the public backlash over his activism. He’s clearly the best quarterback available on the market. The Jaguars could perhaps even win seven or eight games with him. It just doesn’t seem like something Tom Coughlin would do – even a desperate Coughlin.

Perhaps the Jaguars sign a journeyman free agent to compete with Allen.

Bortles will likely never be described as a journeyman. A journeyman has seen a variety of things at different places.

Bortles’ days in the NFL could be at their end.

The Jaguars days of being an NFL bottom feeder sadly might just be getting started.

The franchise will be forced to relaunch their offense this offseason with a first-round quarterback.

This season looks lost.

(You can email Hays at haysc@1010xl.com and follow him on Twitter @HaysCarlyon).