JACKSONVILLE – The challenge will be real.
That's true for the entire Jaguars team Sunday, and particularly for a rookie quarterback making his second NFL start against one of the league's most-respected defensive coordinators.
The Jaguars will face the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, and while that will mean Jaguars rookie quarterback Blake Bortles is facing the quarterback to whom he most often has been compared – Ben Roethlisberger – of more immediate importance is the Steelers' defense.
In particular, facing the Steelers means facing a defensive coordinated by Dick LeBeau, who is known for blitzing rookie quarterbacks and having success doing so.
"Obviously, they do a bunch of different things," Bortles said as the Jaguars (0-4) prepared to play the Steelers (2-2) at EverBank Field Sunday at 1 p.m. "They're solid at what they do. They're an aggressive defense that goes after it and attacks the ball. We're going to have to be sharp and exact with what we do."
That's particularly true against rookie quarterbacks.
The Steelers are 17-2 against rookie quarterbacks in LeBeau's tenure as defensive coordinator, and Roethlisberger didn't play in either loss. One loss was to Baltimore in the 2007 regular-season finale after the Steelers clinched their playoff positioning. The other loss came to Cleveland in 2013, a game that featured eight Steelers fumbles.
The Steelers enter the game after being upset by previously winless Tampa Bay last week, losing 27-24 when Buccaneers quarterback Mike Glennon passed five yards to wide receiver Vincent Jackson with seven seconds remaining.
The Jaguars have lost four games by a total of 152-58, including a 33-14 loss to San Diego last week in which the Chargers pulled away from a 17-14 halftime lead.
Cornerback Dwayne Gratz (concussion), tight end Mickey Shuler (illness) and wide receivers Marqise Lee (hamstring) and Cecil Shorts III (hamstring) have been ruled out for the Jaguars. Demetrius McCray will start for Gratz and rookies Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson likely will start for Shorts and Lee.
Right tackle Austin Pasztor (hand) is expected to make his first start of the season for the Jaguars, meaning the team's starting line of Pasztor, rookie Brandon Linder, rookie Luke Bowanko, Zane Beadles and Luke Joeckel should start together for the first time.
Here's a look at the week's Steelers-Jaguars coverage on jaguars.com …
|
| |
[
 ](http://www.jaguars.com/news/article-JaguarsNews/Jaguars-release-S-Winston-Guy-Jr/73d6751a-d57c-4a4c-8eaa-510ae05b7add) | Jaguars make roster moves: The Jaguars signed safety Craig Loston and released safety Winston Guy Jr. |
[
 ](http://www.jaguars.com/news/article-JaguarsNews/Setting-the-table-Key-matchups-players-for-Steelers-Jaguars/5ac3dc6f-dc85-43bc-b11b-f5509504e701) | Setting the Table: See which players and matchups to watch and so much more. |
[
 ](http://www.jaguars.com/news/article-JaguarsNews/What-to-Watch-Steelers-Jaguars-into-focus/87677302-1990-417f-a260-b457c5048663) | What to Watch For: Senior writer John Oehser's five things to look for during this week's matchup. |
[
 ](http://www.jaguars.com/news/article-JaguarsNews/What-to-Watch-10-Things-Steelers-Jaguars/06ff5ee4-a1b0-425a-974d-daa749f64f6e) | 10 Things: The 10 things the Jaguars must do to beat the Steelers, according to Oehser. |
[
 ](http://www.jaguars.com/news/article-JaguarsNews/Open-Locker-Room-Austin-Pasztor-status-becomes-clear/8e33f77a-b897-4b11-ae58-f98e68216d8a) | Open Locker Room: The latest update following the team's final practice of the week. |
[
 ](http://bit.ly/ace100414) | Jaguars activate to 53-man roster: The Jaguars moved Ace Sanders to the 53-man roster and waived Mickey Shuler. |
|
| |
[
 ](http://www.jaguars.com/media-gallery/videos/All-Access-Clay-Harbor/81d39b6a-3f5b-48af-ae85-3d3eaa047b45) | Jaguars All Access: TE Clay Harbor joins Jaguars analyst Jeff Lageman and WJXT 4 Sports Director Sam Kouvaris. |
[
 ](http://www.jaguars.com/media-gallery/videos/Jags-Headlines-Wednesday/4786facc-b0ca-4ff7-b3e4-3714cb5bcc0b) | Jags Headlines: The top Jaguars headlines for the week. |
[
 ](http://www.jaguars.com/media-gallery/videos/Jaguarscom-LIVE-Blake-Bortles--Josh-Evans/91c9fe86-1117-4c0f-aec9-8b185d1e67c9) | Jaguars.com LIVE: This week's show had Josh Evans as a guest and coverage from Blake Bortles' Wednesday press conference. |
[
 ](http://www.jaguars.com/media-gallery/videos/Ozone-Mailbag-San-Diego-Serenade/576d3b40-90ca-4bf8-959f-f5e4c7c36c3f) | O-Zone Video Mailbag: Oehser answers fan questions. |
[
 ](http://www.jaguars.com/media-gallery/videos/Sanders-Just-getting-in-the-swing-of-things/610e6374-10a5-41bc-aa71-97a4d6ad7aae) | Ace Sanders Press Conference: WR/PR Ace Sanders talks about his return to the team. |
[
 ](http://www.jaguars.com/media-gallery/videos/Fisch-Its-a-competitive-enviroment/c78d6008-86cd-4937-97c6-e586ffda26d5) | Jedd Fisch Press Conference: OC Jedd Fisch talks to reporters on Wednesday as the team installs its gameplan for the Steelers. |
[
 ](http://www.jaguars.com/media-gallery/videos/A-Few-Good-Minutes-Geno-Hayes/100a13c7-363b-4d92-8de1-763fd8b48351) | A Few Good Minutes: LB Geno Hayes joins Senior Correspondent Brian Sexton to talk about several topics. |
[
 ](http://www.jaguars.com/media-gallery/videos/Babich-Take-advantage-of-opportunities/9a26b496-1f79-43df-8cb8-2a97c08e171f) | Bob Babich Press Conference: DC Bob Babich discusses his plans to slow down the Steelers. |
[
 ](http://www.jaguars.com/media-gallery/videos/Kickin-it-with-Scobee/f1e63008-ee6a-4db7-92be-ad69d43a95de) | Kickin' It With Scobee: Jaguars kicker Josh Scobee asks his teammates about their favorite athletes growing up. |
[
 ](http://www.jaguars.com/media-gallery/videos/Film-Room-Friday/f7ff6995-b328-4b06-b32e-02b33491bdc8) | Film Room Friday: Lageman looks at Bortles' first NFL start. |
[
 ](http://www.jaguars.com/media-gallery/videos/Bradley-We-ask-more-of-them/d953f785-08e7-4ca1-813e-3f935bc950a5) | Gus Bradley Press Conference: Watch Head Coach Gus Bradley's final press conference before the Jaguars game. |
[
 ](http://www.jaguars.com/media-gallery/videos/Know-Your-Opponent-Pittsburgh-Steelers/eb664560-af4c-427f-85f5-0088a7b36059) | Know Your Opponent: With the Jaguars getting ready for the Steelers, players answer questions about the City of Pittsburgh. |
[
 ](http://www.jaguars.com/media-gallery/videos/Inside-the-Jaguars-Ready-for-the-Steelers/facf7ab0-f24c-4c0c-8af5-a4e724554307) | Inside the Jaguars: The final Inside the Jaguars before the team's game on Sunday. |
[
 ](http://www.jaguars.com/media-gallery/videos/Jags-of-the-Round-Table/9abc0c60-3540-45b9-834f-b3877cb149d9) | Jags of the Round Table: Oehser, Sexton and Shadrick discuss several Jaguars topics heading into Week 5. |
[
 ](http://www.jaguars.com/media-gallery/videos/5-Keys-Jaguars-vs-Steelers/ea313d43-2763-4f30-9b6c-f5e50db1754b) | 5 Keys: Sexton goes to the Hyperscreen to break down the five keys to the game. |
|
| |
[
 ](http://www.jaguars.com/media-gallery/photo-gallery/Practice-Photos-Oct-1st-/57d29f0b-0619-4084-ab9a-a672a505f1e4) | October 1 Practice: Take a look at images from Jaguars practice on Wednesday. |
[
 ](http://www.jaguars.com/media-gallery/photo-gallery/Practice-Photos-Oct-2nd-/019cd94f-815e-48d9-bd10-d8122d1340df) | October 2 Practice: Photos from the Jaguars' practice on Thursday. |
[
 ](http://www.jaguars.com/media-gallery/photo-gallery/Throwback-Gallery-PIT-vs-JAX/2ee7cdeb-a507-4595-8bb2-7ffdd4f65c08) | Steelers vs Jaguars Throwback Gallery: Images from previous matchups between the two clubs. |
