Byron Leftwich was told on Thursday he would not be the Jaguars' starting quarterback this Sunday.
"I've been told I won't start this week. It's frustrating but it's something I have to deal with. My main goal is to stay the same person," Leftwich told reporters following Thursday's practice.
Leftwich was informed of coach Jack Del Rio's decision when the two met before practice on Thursday. Leftwich said he wasn't given specifics of the decision and he said he didn't press the issue.
Del Rio downgraded Leftwich from "probable" to "questionable" on the Jaguars injury report on Thursday. Leftwich missed last Sunday's game in Philadelphia due to a sprained left ankle.
David Garrard replaced Leftwich in the starting lineup in Philadelphia and led the Jaguars to a 13-6 win. Garrard took all of the snaps in practice on Thursday after having split snaps with Leftwich on Wednesday.
Asked if he feels as though he's healthy enough to play, Leftwich said: "Yes, I do, but it doesn't matter what I feel.
"To be honest with you, I don't know how to look at it. We've all seen me play in worst shape than this," he added.
Leftwich sprained the ankle in Washington on Oct. 1 but the injury was largely overlooked until Friday morning, Oct. 20, when Leftwich reported for practice at Alltel Stadium with soreness and swelling in the ankle. He missed practice that day and underwent treatment on the ankle. He was the Jaguars' starting quarterback in Houston on Oct. 22 and played poorly in a 27-7 defeat.
Del Rio initially said the injury had not hindered Leftwich's performance against the Texans but, after careful inspection of video from that game, Del Rio changed his mind.
"It's not about me. I've always been a team guy," Leftwich said. "I'm not 100 percent, but I've practiced before a whole lot more sore than (this). Do I feel I can go out and help this team win? Yes."
Leftwich was deactivated and made the team's "third quarterback" in Philadelphia, though Leftwich didn't even "dress" for that game. He said he wasn't told whether he would "dress" for this Sunday's game.
