"It's now Gabbert time for the Jaguars.

Coach Jack Del Rio benched Luke McCown and named Blaine Gabbert the team's starting quarterback Wednesday.

"It's now time for Blaine," Del Rio said. "It's time for him to play."

Gabbert is the team's third starting quarterback in the last 15 days, the fifth in the last two years and the eighth quarterback Del Rio has started in his nine years as head coach.

The 10th overall pick in the NFL draft, Gabbert is expected to bring stability to the position, for perhaps the next decade.

Reflecting the way the players look at Gabbert, guard Uche Nwaneri said, "I want to make sure I am here all 10 years.''

The Jaguars tried to bring Gabbert along slowly. They kept veteran David Garrard before deciding the Tuesday before the regular season to cut him.

Del Rio bypassed Gabbert and handed the job to McCown, saying he had the best training camp of the three quarterbacks and gave them the best chance to win.

But after McCown threw four interceptions in the 32-3 loss to the Jets Sunday, Del Rio decided to make the transition to Gabbert.

When Del Rio was asked why he didn't start Gabbert in the season opener, he said, "That was considered and we elected to go this way.''

Del Rio said McCown was warned he had to play well to keep the job.

Even McCown conceded he didn't play well against the Jets.

"I can't say I deserve another chance," he said. "I didn't perform well last week.""