Blake Bortles

New Orleans Saints
Quarterback #5
New Orleans Saints
Quarterback #5

Blake Bortles News

Retires from NFL

Bortles announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

Analysis: Bortles has decided to hang his cleats up after being selected third overall in the 2014 NFL Draft by the Jaguars. He'll finish his career with 17,649 passing yards, 103 touchdowns and 75 interceptions over 78 games with the Jaguars and Rams. He spent the final few years of his career on and off of practice squads including with the Packers and Saints.

Oct 5, 2022 7:29 AM EST


Set to be released

The Saints will release Bortles, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Analysis: This is an outcome that was foreshadowed by the team's signing of Andy Dalton to back up Jameis Winston, who is bouncing back from a knee injury. Additionally, the Saints roster Ian Book, a 2021 fourth-rounder. Bortles -- who was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft -- will now look to catch on with another team, presumably one seeking to bolster its No. 2 QB situation.

Apr 5, 2022 9:21 AM EST



Sticking with New Orleans

The Saints signed Bortles to a reserve/future contract Tuesday, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.

Analysis: Bortles spent the final few weeks of the regular season on the Saints' practice squad and landed on the COVID-19 list ahead of Week 18. The 29-year-old didn't appear in any regular-season games during the 2021 campaign but will remain with the Saints heading into the offseason.

Jan 11, 2022 3:11 PM EST


Back from COVID-19 list

Bortles (undisclosed) was restored to the Saints' practice squad from the practice squad COVID-19 list Monday, Katherine Terrell of The Athletic reports.

Analysis: Bortles landed on the practice squad COVID-19 list Jan. 6 and was ineligible to be elevated for Sunday's season finale against Atlanta as a result. Though he spent time with both Green Bay and New Orleans in 2022, he did not record any stats.

Jan 10, 2022 7:37 PM EST


Placed on Saints' COVID list

Bortles (undisclosed) was placed on the Saints' practice squad COVID list Thursday, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.

Analysis: The 29-year-old will now have to go through league protocols before returning to the team in the coming days. Bortles has almost all of the season on practice squads, only cracking an active roster on a couple of occasions, though he did not play in either game.

Jan 6, 2022 3:31 PM EST



Returns to practice squad

Bortles reverted to the Saints' practice squad Tuesday, per the NFL's transaction log.

Analysis: Bortles was a gameday elevation for Monday Night Football and didn't see the field while serving as the No. 2 quarterback behind Ian Book. It's the second time this season Bortles has been active as the backup quarterback without seeing the field.

Dec 28, 2021 8:20 PM EST


Elevated by Saints

Bortles was elevated from the Saints' practice squad ahead of Monday's game against the Dolphins, Katherine Terrell of The Athletic reports.

Analysis: Bortles joined the Saints' practice squad late last week, and he'll serve as the No. 2 quarterback behind Ian Book on Monday since Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian have tested positive for COVID-19. Bortles hasn't entered a regular-season game since 2019.

Dec 27, 2021 2:29 PM EST


Set to join New Orleans

Bortles is expected to sign with the Saints on Friday to serve as the backup quarterback Monday against the Dolphins, Jeff Duncan of The Athletic reports.

Analysis: Ian Book is poised to start at quarterback with Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian testing positive for COVID-19 this week, and Bortles is now set to join the mix. Bortles hasn't seen game action since 2019, though he did serve as Green Bay's backup quarterback in November when Aaron Rodgers was out with COVID.

Dec 24, 2021 8:22 AM EST


Released from GB's practice squad

Bortles was released from the Packers' practice squad Monday.

Analysis: Fellow quarterback Kurt Benkert returned from the reserve/COVID-19 list, which spelled the end of Bortles' tenure on Green Bay's practice squad. Bortles' 78 games of NFL experience should help him land a practice squad spot elsewhere before long.

Nov 15, 2021 2:06 PM EST


Heads to practice squad

Bortles reverted to the Packers' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's official transaction log.

Analysis: Bortles was called up ahead of Green Bay's Week 9 matchup with the Chiefs to be the backup to Jordan Love with Aaron Rodgers on the COVID-19 list. The veteran quarterback was active, but did not see the field during the loss.

Nov 11, 2021 7:24 AM EST


Bumped up from practice squad

Bortles was elevated from the practice squad Saturday to the active roster.

Analysis: Bortles had just re-signed with the Packers on Nov. 3 after taking part in their offseason program when Aaron Rodgers was away from the team. With Rodgers away again due to being on the COVID-19 list, as well as Kurt Benkert, who is on the practice squad COVID-19 list, the Packers were down to just Jordan Love as their only healthy quarterback. The activation of Bortles to the main roster means he's likely to back up Love on Sunday against the Chiefs.

Nov 6, 2021 12:56 PM EST


In line to re-sign with Pack

The Packers are expected to sign Bortles to the practice squad, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Analysis: Bortles spent the offseason program in Green Bay with Aaron Rodgers staying away from the team. When Rodgers reported to training camp, though, the Packers cut Bortles loose, bringing the QB room down to Rodgers, Jordan Love and Kurt Benkert. Rodgers tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, while Benkert is on the practice squad COVID-19 list, so Love currently is the only healthy signal-caller on the team. Assuming Bortles signs and ultimately is elevated to the active roster, he'll serve as Love's backup Sunday in Kansas City.

Nov 3, 2021 10:29 AM EST


Released after Rodgers shows up

The Packers released Bortles on Tuesday, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: Bortles apparently was just insurance for Aaron Rodgers, who reported to training camp Tuesday morning and reportedly is prepared to play at least one more season for the Packers. The decision to release Bortles suggests Jordan Love won't face any real competition for the No. 2 QB job, a role Tim Boyle held last season before signing with the division-rival Lions in March. Meanwhile, the 29-year-old Bortles hasn't started an NFL game since 2018.

Jul 27, 2021 12:36 PM EST


Joins Packers as workouts approach

The Packers are signing Bortles to a contract Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Analysis: Bortles is getting a one-year deal in Green Bay, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. Prior to Bortles' signing, Jordan Love was the only quarterback slated to attend the start of in-person workouts April 17, so the 29-year-old's presence fills a clear practice need for the team. The ongoing saga of Aaron Rodgers' disgruntlement with management will serve to determine Bortles' chances of actually making the final roster in a reserve capacity.

May 12, 2021 2:39 PM EST


Set to hit free agency

Bortles didn't see game action for the Rams during the 2020 campaign, and he's set to hit free agency during the offseason.

Analysis: The third overall selection in the 2014 NHL Draft is unlikely to re-sign with Los Angeles after spending the past two seasons with the franchise. There's potential for Bortles to latch on with another team and even see the field in 2021, but he also likely has a long road ahead before warranting fantasy attention -- even in the deepest of settings.

Jan 29, 2021 4:53 PM EST


Officially signs with Rams

The Rams signed Bortles off the Broncos' practice squad Tuesday.

Analysis: With Jared Goff (thumb) ruled out for the season finale against the Cardinals, Bortles will return to Los Angeles to serve as John Wolford's backup. Bortles spent the entirety of the 2019 season with the Rams, so he has enough familiarity with the system to be ready if called upon. Meanwhile, Wolford -- who entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2018 -- will make his NFL debut Sunday.

Dec 29, 2020 1:46 PM EST


Potential return to Rams

Bortles is being targeted as a possible backup for the Rams this weekend according to head coach Sean McVay, Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: Bortles spent time with the Broncos earlier this season, bouncing between the active roster and practice squad for several weeks. Now with Jared Goff (thumb) ruled out, the Rams may look to bring in the veteran, who spent the 2019 campaign in Los Angeles. Currently, the only other quarterback on the Rams' active roster is John Wolford.

Dec 28, 2020 7:09 PM EST


Passes COVID-19 protocols

Bortles was restored from the practice squad COVID-19 list Tuesday, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.

Analysis: Drew Lock and Brett Rypien also were activated from the list. Bortles continues to reside on the practice squad. He has a slim chance of handling any meaningful snaps with the Broncos behind Lock, Rypien and Jeff Driskel (illness) on the organizational depth chart.

Dec 1, 2020 1:45 PM EST


On practice squad COVID list

Bortles was placed on the practice squad COVID-19 list Saturday, Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: Bortles was a high-risk close contact with an infected person, along with Drew Lock, Brett Rypien and Jeff Driskel. None of those quarterbacks will be available for Sunday's game versus the Saints, so Kendall Hinton will start under center.

Nov 29, 2020 7:11 AM EST


Lands on practice squad

The Broncos signed Bortles to the practice squad Monday, Troy Renck of Denver 7 News reports.

Analysis: Bortles was released by the Broncos on Saturday, but he'll stick around as a scout team quarterback. The Broncos will push forward with Drew Lock as their starting quarterback, Brett Rypien as the backup and Jeff Driskel as the No. 3 option. If any of the three get hurt, Bortles likely will get called up again.

Oct 19, 2020 12:53 PM EST


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