Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence will miss his second consecutive game due to an AC joint sprain in his left (non-throwing) shoulder.
Mac Jones, who was traded to the Jaguars in March, will start for the team in their game against the Detroit Lions on Sunday. The Jaguars will then take their bye week after this game.
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson explained that giving Lawrence more rest before the bye made sense.
As for when Lawrence might return after the bye, Pederson said, “It’s still a question mark but I’m optimistic.”
Lawrence, 25, missed only his second NFL game last Sunday.
Jones, 26, played in the Jaguars’ previous game against the Minnesota Vikings, completing 14 of 22 passes for 111 yards and two interceptions. The Jaguars lost the game 12-7, their third consecutive defeat.
“He’s excited to have another opportunity,” Pederson said. “Obviously another chance for him to rebound from last week. As a team, same (thing). (We’ll) rally around him and support him and get ready to play a really good football team.”
Jones has thrown for 139 yards and two interceptions in three games this season. He has completed 66.0 percent of his passes, with 46 touchdowns and 38 interceptions in 45 career games with New England and Jacksonville. He was picked by the Patriots with the 15th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Lawrence got injured in the second quarter of Jacksonville’s 28-23 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on November 3. He finished the game, completing 16 of 31 passes for 169 yards and two interceptions.
Lawrence, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, has thrown for 2,004 yards, 11 touchdowns, and six interceptions, completing 61.3% of his passes in nine games so far in 2024.
