This photo taken Sept. 1, 2011 shows Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert (11) and David Garrard (9) congratulate quarterback Luke McCown (12) after he threw a touchdown pass late in the first half during an NFL preseason football game against
This photo taken Sept. 1, 2011 shows Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert (11) and David Garrard (9) congratulate quarterback Luke McCown (12) after he threw a touchdown pass late in the first half during an NFL preseason football game against the St. Louis Rams in Jacksonville, Fla. Garrard lost his starting job the same way he got it: Just days before the season opener and in stunning fashion. The Jaguars released Garrard on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011, making a "pure football decision" that will save the franchise $9 million in 2011. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton, File) Stephen Morton, Associated Press
By Associated Press

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It's Luke McCown. Not Josh McCown, not Randy McCown and definitely not Cade McNown.

He grew up in Texas, is the son of a sawmill worker, played college football at Louisiana Tech and is now the starting quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

McCown hasn't started since the 2007 season finale and hasn't played since Week 2 of last season.

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That will change Sunday when the Jaguars host rival Tennessee. It's an opportunity McCown waited four years for and battled back from two knee injuries to make possible. How it happened became more clear Wednesday, when coach Jack Del Rio acknowledged that David Garrard's three-interception performance in practice Monday — yes, we're talking 'bout practice — was the final straw that prompted the switch and Garrard's stunning release.

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