With Trevor Lawrence at the helm, the Jacksonville Jaguars seemed to be on a promising trajectory, as the quarterback is shouldering the team’s fortunes single-handedly. Nevertheless, the story took an unfortunate turn in December as Lawrence faced consecutive injuries.
It prompted the Jaguars to add Matt Barkley to their squad. Despite this interim solution, the team is now exercising caution, realizing the importance of making judicious decisions regarding their star quarterback’s health.
Trevor Lawrence will miss his first-ever Jags game due to an injury
Trevor Lawrence is set to miss his first NFL game against the Carolina Panthers due to a sprained right AC joint, a shoulder injury he sustained during last week’s match against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This injury puts an end to Lawrence’s remarkable streak of 49 consecutive starts since being drafted first overall in 2021. It is a streak that was tied with Patrick Mahomes for the second-longest active streak among quarterbacks.
This represents the first time that Trevor Lawrence will miss a game due to injury. https://t.co/Xwnwx6yuNk
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 29, 2023
Lawrence endured the injury in the third quarter of the previous Sunday’s loss, yet he played through the rest of the quarter before being replaced by C.J. Beathard in the fourth. In that game, Lawrence displayed resilience, completing 17 of 29 pass attempts for 211 passing yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. He also led the team in rushing with 29 yards.
This season has been challenging for Trevor Lawrence in terms of injuries, with the sprained right AC joint being the fourth setback. Earlier in the season, he dealt with a sprained left knee, a high ankle sprain, and a concussion. Amid his injuries, the Jaguars were also in hot water due to not using a cart for their injured quarterback against the Bengals, whose injury even drew a special prayer from Trey Hendrickson.
Despite these challenges, Lawrence has shown his sportsmanship, leading the Jaguars to victories even when facing physical setbacks.
This week, Lawrence was unable to practice due to the shoulder injury, marking a deviation from his usual routine. Despite being present at Wednesday’s practice in shorts and a hoodie, the severity of the shoulder issue has kept him out of action.
Trevor Lawrence will be replaced by C.J. Beathard at QB
With Trevor Lawrence sidelined due to a shoulder injury, C.J. Beathard is set to step into the starting role for the Jacksonville Jaguars, marking his first start since the final game of the 2020 regular season with the San Francisco 49ers.
Trevor Lawrence is out for Sunday’s game against Carolina. It’ll be his first missed game of his career. C.J. Beathard starts for the Jags
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) December 29, 2023
While Beathard has 12 career starts, the last one dates back to his time with the San Francisco 49ers in 2020, where his team had a 2-10 record in his starts. Despite being on the Jaguars’ roster for three seasons, Beathard has primarily served as Lawrence’s backup.
Throughout his three seasons with the Jaguars, Beathard has played in 12 games as a backup, completing an impressive 76.2% of his passes for 239 yards and contributing one touchdown and one interception.
This season has seen Beathard step in twice for Lawrence, demonstrating his reliability as a backup. Initially, he entered the game against the Cincinnati Bengals on December 4 after Lawrence suffered a high ankle sprain, completing 9 of 10 passes for 63 yards. In the subsequent game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Beathard replaced Lawrence and showcased his skills by completing 11 of 15 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown.
As Beathard takes the reins in Lawrence’s absence, the Jaguars are entering a crucial phase in the season. Currently leading the AFC South, they are closely pursued by the Colts and the Houston Texans, all three teams sitting at 8-7. The outcome of Sunday’s games, coupled with the performance in Week 18, will determine the AFC South Champion.
If the Jaguars secure a win and the Colts and Texans face losses, they can clinch the division. Nevertheless, a loss combined with victories for the Colts and Texans will set the stage for a decisive Week 18 matchup to determine the division’s champion.
The absence of Lawrence will be a significant change for the Jaguars, and fans will be eager to see how backup quarterback C.J. Beathard steps into the starting role against the Panthers in Trevor Lawrence’s missed game.
