So this is the Blaine Gabbert the Jaguars thought they were getting in 2011.

Gabbert was near perfect Thursday night while making his preseason debut for the Cardinals against the Cowboys in the Hall of Fame Game at Tom Benson Stadium in Canton, Ohio.

He led the Cardinals on two touchdown drives in the first quarter, going 6 for 6 for 107 yards. He also snuck in a two-point conversion as the Cardinals jumped out to a 15-0 lead.

Gabbert completed his first eight passes before finishing his superb night 11 of 14 for 185 yards against a Cowboys defense that was without its starters. His high completion rate is especially noteworthy because he has completed just 56 percent of his passes over his career.

But Gabbert was not just completing simple dumpoffs against the Cowboys, who trailed 15-10 at halftime but rallied in the second half for a 20-18 victory. Gabbert threw a dart over the middle to a streaking Brittan Golden for a 35-yard gain on the game's opening drive.

When the Jaguars selected Gabbert with the 10th pick of the 2011 NFL Draft, they thought the former Missouri standout would be their franchise quarterback for years to come. But he struggled during three disappointing seasons that saw the Jaguars go through three head coaches. He was traded to San Francisco in 2014 and became the starter late in the 2015 season following an injury to Colin Kaepernick.

Gabbert's play was underwhelming during his three seasons with the 49ers, who also went through three head coaches in as many years. Gabbert was San Francisco's opening-day starter last season, but eventually lost his job after throwing for 925 yards with five touchdowns and six interceptions in five starts.

Despite Gabbert's inconsistencies during a career that has seen him throw for 7,351 yards with 38 touchdowns and 37 interceptions while going 9-31 as a starter, the St. Louis native has seemed to pick up Bruce Arians' Cardinals offense quickly since signing in May.

He is in competition with Drew Stanton for the Cardinals No. 2 job behind starter Carson Palmer. Stanton did not play Thursday as undrafted rookie Trevor Knight was under center for the Cardinals in the second half.

It was only the preseason opener and a game void of any real star power, but Gabbert finally looked like the quarterback he was expected to be when he left Missouri following his junior year.

The Cardinals have to like what they saw from Gabbert in Canton, especially considering the 37-year-old Palmer has missed parts of five seasons because of injuries over his 14-year career.

Arians said at halftime he was "very pleased" with Gabbert's performance, especially the poise he showed in the pocket.