Not having injured Nick Foles available for the next eight games is another example of the ongoing problems the Jaguars have had at quarterback.

Six months ago, the mood was festive and optimism filled the room.

Finally, Jaguars top executive Tom Coughlin thought he fixed the franchise’s most glaring problem for years.

They signed a big-game performer at quarterback – Nick Foles – a former Super Bowl MVP with obvious proven ability.

Coughlin set the tone that day during Foles’ introductory news conference when he said, "Adding Nick to our roster has made our team better. That certainly is a part of it, his ability to perform in big games.’’

For a change, it appeared the Jaguars had got it right – though costly – signing Foles to a four-year, $88 million contract, which included $51.125 million guaranteed, the largest amount extended by the Jaguars in franchise history.

But 10 offensive plays into last week’s season opener against Kansas City, Foles suffered a broken left collarbone when he was hit by Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones as he released a 35-yard touchdown pass to DJ Chark.

After undergoing surgery, Foles is now on injured reserve and not eligible to return until Nov. 11 at the earliest.

Now, instead of a proven big-game performer, the Jaguars are putting all their hopes on rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew to lead the offense for the next eight games, starting Sunday against Houston, until Foles returns.

''We’ve had a lot of things go bad for us every year. This is another one,’’ wide receiver Marqise Lee said.

After a dismal 5-11 season in 2018, coach Doug Marrone’s job may depend on Minshew’s ability to overcome the odds to get through a difficult schedule that includes next Thursday’s game against AFC South rival Tennessee, at Denver Sept. 29, at Carolina Oct. 6 and New Orleans Oct. 13.

''Trying to be the best I can for the team,’’ Minshew said. ''The role changes, but the approach doesn’t. This is real ball. Senses get heightened.’’

Thrusting so much responsibility upon an unproven rookie was something the franchise hoped to avoid.

''All the work we did in OTAs, all the work we did on the playbook, all of that was geared towards Nick Foles,’’ Marrone said. "Well, in a matter of a quarter, and here we go starting again. It’s a challenge, and we’re up for it.’’

Not having Foles available for the next eight games is another example of the ongoing problems the Jaguars have had at quarterback.

Where do you start?

How about the five seasons waiting for Blake Bortles to develop into a reliable franchise quarterback only to remain inconsistent. He took the Jaguars to the AFC title game in 2017 only to return the following season and lose his starting job when they lost seven in a row. Bortles, the third overall pick in the 2014 draft, ended his career in Jacksonville with a 24-49 record in 73 regular-season starts.

He threw 103 touchdowns and 75 interceptions in the regular season and was still rewarded with a three-year, $54 million extension, including $26.5 million in guaranteed money, in February 2018. Even after the Jaguars parted ways with Bortles in March, Coughlin defended his decision to extend his contract, even though he could have on his fifth-year option in 2018 with no further financial obligation. The Jaguars have $16.5 million in dead money on their 2019 salary cap after releasing Bortles because of his extension.

''It was the right thing to do,” Coughlin said of Bortles’ $54 million extension. ''The guy took us to the AFC championship game, and there wouldn’t have been anybody that would have disputed the fact that he deserved the opportunity, and we played well behind him.”

Before Bortles, the Jaguars drafted Blaine Gabbert with the 10th overall pick in the 2011 draft. By Gabbert’s third season, he was already a washout, benched in the 2013 opener and going on to have seven interceptions in three games that season.

The Jaguars have not exactly gotten it right with the backup job, either. They used a sixth-round pick to draft Tanner Lee in 2018, but he never showed improvement before he was released.

In March 2018, the Jaguars acquired Cody Kessler in a trade with Cleveland in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick. It became clear last season that Kessler wasn’t capable of providing a spark after replacing Bortles as the starter after the Jaguars had lost seven straight games.

In May, the Jaguars released Kessler to clear the way for Minshew to compete for the top backup job. The Jaguars released third-string quarterback Alex McGough on Aug. 30, a day before they were required to pare their roster from 90 to the 53 players.

This past week, the Jaguars gave up a fifth-round pick to acquire backup quarterback Josh Dobbs in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It’s still a long season ahead, but Minshew appears to be unfazed about the challenges. After stepping in for Foles this past Sunday, he completed his first 13 passes before going 22 of 25 for 275 yards with two touchdowns in their 40-26 loss to the Chiefs.

''It’s obviously a bummer for Nick [Foles], our offense and our team [with him getting injured],’’ offensive coordinator John DeFilippo said. ''It’s never easy playing quarterback. It’s a tribute to Gardner that he prepared as he was going to be the starter and he may have to play. He’s the type of young man, I don’t think anything is going to go to his head.''

Bouye, Lee did not make trip

Starting cornerback A.J. Bouye (hip)and wide receiver Marqise Lee (knee) did not travel with the team to Houston for Sunday's game against the Texans. The Jaguars listed both as out. Starting defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (hamstring) and left tackle Cam Robinson were ruled ruled out on Friday.