Who will be Trevor Lawrence's backup? Exploring Jaguars' options after QB's Week 9 injury
Despite playing the entirety of Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence suffered a shoulder injury.
Earlier in the week, reports surfaced that Lawrence was dealing with upper body issues. It was later revealed that Lawrence was dealing with a left shoulder injury.
NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport reported on Thursday that Lawrence will unlikely play this Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. While the Jaguars got the bad news of Lawrence likely being out Sunday, Rapoport provided some good news, saying that Lawrence will avoid surgery on the injury.
Lawrence has played all nine games this season for the Jaguars. He's in jeopardy of missing his first game this Sunday.
Who will start for the Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday if Trevor Lawrence is inactive?
Mac Jones will likely start for the Jaguars on Sunday. Jones was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars from the New England Patriots in March. Jones was benched at the end of the season by the Patriots last year and decided to move on from their former first-round pick.
The Jaguars sent New England a 2024 sixth-round pick for Jones. Upon acquiring Jones, the Jaguars elected not to pick up his fifth-year option.
Jones was drafted in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the same draft class as Trevor Lawrence. He made the Pro Bowl his rookie year as he went 10-7 as the starting quarterback, throwing for 3,801 yards, 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
So far this season, Jones has appeared in two games for the Jaguars, completing 6-of-9 passes for 28 yards. There's a good chance he will start against the Vikings this Sunday.
The Jacksonville Jaguars signed C.J. Beathard this week
With Trevor Lawrence's status for the rest of the season in question, the Jacksonville Jaguars brought back a familiar face. The Jaguars signed quarterback C.J. Beathard from the Miami Dolphins practice squad.
Normally, over the last three seasons, the Jaguars would only carry three active quarterbacks on the roster if Lawrence was hurt or dealing with injuries. Making Beathard active shows that Lawrence could very likely be out Sunday.
If Lawrence is inactive, Beathard will be Mac Jones' backup.
In his career, Beathard has completed 60.4 percent of passes for 3,886 yards, 19 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.