Earlier this week, it was reported that Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence might miss his team’s Week 10 game against the Vikings on Sunday. Ian Rapoport from NFL.com has confirmed that Lawrence will be out for the Minnesota game, and there’s a chance that the former No. 1 overall pick could be sidelined for the rest of the season.
Rapoport explains that Lawrence is dealing with a serious AC joint sprain in his left (non-throwing) shoulder. This injury can make it hard to throw or even perform basic tasks. The current plan is for Lawrence to rest and work on recovery, but surgery is also a possibility.
If surgery becomes necessary, Lawrence would likely miss the rest of the 2024 season. Dianna Russini from The Athletic reports that the 25-year-old quarterback is still looking at his options, including the possibility of ending his season early.
If Lawrence is unable to play again in 2024, it might not significantly affect Jacksonville’s short-term goals. The team’s 2-7 record means their chances of making the playoffs are very slim, so the Jaguars will likely be careful with their star quarterback, especially since he signed a five-year, $275 million extension in June.
However, if the losses continue to stack up, it increases the chances that head coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke could lose their jobs.
Jaguars owner Shad Khan expressed his support for both men last month, but he also described this year’s roster as the best in the franchise’s history. Given the team’s struggles even with Lawrence on the field, it wouldn’t be surprising if Khan decided to make big changes within the organization.
With Lawrence out, Mac Jones will take over at quarterback. Jones, who was traded to the Jaguars this offseason, was originally drafted by the Patriots in the first round. He finished second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2021, but his second season in New England was hurt by coaching issues and changes to the team’s offense.
After the Patriots used their No. 3 overall pick this year and brought in a new coach and quarterback, Jones was traded to Jacksonville in exchange for a sixth-round pick.
Now 26 years old, Jones had to compete with C.J. Beathard for the backup quarterback spot during training camp (Beathard has since returned to the team after Jacksonville signed him from the Dolphins’ practice squad due to Lawrence’s injury).
Jones has only thrown nine passes this season, but with his contract up at the end of the year, he has a chance to make a strong case for a starting job somewhere in 2025.
