With an 8-7 record, the Jacksonville Jaguars are in a tough position to consolidate their position in the AFC South, which they share with the Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts. As the squad fought for victory, starting pitcher Trevor Lawrence’s mettle was put to the test by a number of health problems he encountered during the season.
As the Jaguars fervently pursue their playoff aspirations and harbor dreams of Super Bowl glory, they have taken proactive measures to tackle Lawrence’s health concerns while securing a seasoned backup player to ensure a robust lineup.
Jaguars sign Matt Barkley to active roster
To fortify their quarterback depth, the Jacksonville Jaguars have signed veteran QB Matt Barkley to the active roster, drawing him from the New York Giants practice squad. This acquisition comes at a crucial juncture for the Jaguars as franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence faces uncertainty in his availability for a pivotal Week 17 clash due to yet another injury.
The move reflects a proactive approach by the Jaguars to ensure stability in the quarterback position. Nevertheless, the sign of Barkley came after the Jaguars placed safety Daniel Thomas on the IR list.
Barkley brings a wealth of experience, having played for an impressive 11 teams in his career. Originally drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft, Barkley has navigated through various NFL landscapes, including stints with Arizona, Chicago, San Francisco, Cincinnati, Buffalo, Tennessee, Carolina, Atlanta, and most recently, the New York Giants. Notably, he started six games in Chicago and one in Buffalo.
Hailing from Santa Ana, California, Barkley has completed 212 of 363 passes for 2,699 yards and 11 touchdowns. The move to bring Barkley on board not only adds depth to the Jaguars’ roster but also provides valuable experience and a steady hand if called upon.
Latest on Trevor Lawrence’s injury
A sprained right AC joint puts Trevor Lawrence’s game status for the upcoming game against the Carolina Panthers in limbo, per ESPN.
The pivotal moment leading to Lawrence’s injury occurred during the Jaguars’ Week 16 clash with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after he cleared his concussion protocol for suffering a blow hit during Week 15. In a daring attempt to secure a first down on a fourth-and-1 play, Lawrence stretched and dove along the sideline. A forceful shove by Bucs linebacker Yaya Diaby propelled him out of bounds.
It resulted in a harsh landing on his right shoulder as he slid into the opposing team’s bench area. Despite the evident pain, Lawrence exhibited sportsmanship, remaining in the game to complete the drive. His determination was evident as he completed 4 of 5 passes, including an impressive 18-yard connection with Calvin Ridley for a touchdown.
Jaguars’ Coach Doug Pederson provided insight into Lawrence’s current condition, revealing his improvement but expressing uncertainty about his participation in Wednesday’s practice. The backup quarterback, C.J. Beathard, may once again step in for first-team reps if Lawrence is unable to join practice.
“Obviously, he’s a little bit sore but doing better today than he did yesterday. We’ll see where he is at again tomorrow. May do a little something tomorrow but I would doubt that just because it’s a little bit too soon, but we’ll see as the week goes on.”
The story of Lawrence’s injury-plagued season took a turn earlier when an ankle injury cut short his night in a game against the Bengals, which garnered attention for the team’s negligence towards their starter. Despite initial expectations of missing a game or two, Lawrence surprisingly played in the subsequent matchup against the Cleveland Browns, albeit struggling with three interceptions in a losing effort.
Now it remains to be seen how well Matt Barkley fill the shoes of Trevor Lawrence in the upcoming contest.
