Once the team thought to take the AFC South easily, the Jacksonville Jaguars are gasping for air and cutting it extremely close in the hopes of snagging a playoff spot. They will win the AFC South with a win this weekend over the Tennessee Titans. A loss makes the Houston Texans vs. Indianapolis Colts clash the de facto division winner.
To make it even more complicated for fantasy football managers, several Jaguars are dealing with injuries that could impact their Week 18 availability. What is the latest on Trevor Lawrence, Christian Kirk, and Zay Jones?
Latest News and Injury Updates Impacting Fantasy
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence has not had the year most fantasy managers expected. Poised to take a big jump with head coach Doug Pederson captaining the ship, Lawrence has only mustered a QB14 finish heading into the final week of the season. Sure, he has had some great weeks for fantasy, but the majority of the year has simply been average.
Lawrence has also been battling injury lately. He missed the Week 17 game against the Carolina Panthers and is dealing with a right shoulder and left finger issue, putting his status in question for Week 18.
Pederson told reporters that Lawrence will be questionable for Sunday and that the decision might go right up to game time. Lawrence will ramp up and try to throw more today.
If Lawrence has to miss another game, the offense will once again run through C.J. Beathard.
“Our guys have a lot of belief in C.J.,” Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor said. “It’s one thing to say that from what you’ve seen in preparation and practice and preseason and things like that, then for him to go out, execute the game, plan and lead our team to a win — protect the football — I think that just increases everybody’s level of respect for him and trust in him and in what he’s capable of.”
Lawrence is QB8 in PFN’s weekly consensus rankings.
Christian Kirk, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
The potential return of WR Christian Kirk to the field could not have come at a better time for the Jaguars. In Week 13, Kirk sustained a core muscle injury after catching one pass for 26 yards. He left the field immediately and was placed on IR on December 8.
On Wednesday, Jacksonville designated Kirk to return from IR, which opens a 21-day window when Kirk can practice without being on the active roster. The team is hopeful he can return for Sunday’s game against Tennessee. Kirk is listed as questionable heading into the weekend.
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Head coach Doug Pederson talked about Kirk and how he is looking in practice. “He’s looked good. He’s hitting some of his old benchmark numbers as far as straight-line running. Now, it’s just a matter of the cutting and more the football work. He did some things yesterday in practice, we’ll ramp him up again today and see how he feels.”
The matchup is good for the Jaguars WRs — the Titans give up the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing WRs. Kirk is WR26 in PFN’s consensus ranking this week.
Zay Jones, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
WR Zay Jones has not seen the field since Week 15 against Baltimore where he caught five of his eight targets for 59 yards. Jones has missed eight games total this season due to injury, and this week would be fantastic for him to be healthy enough to return to the field.
He is listed as questionable heading into Week 18, battling knee and hamstring issues, but Pederson seems optimistic. “Zay is good. He’s increased his workload this week, he feels better, and he feels healthier. Would expect him to be out there on game day,” Pederson said.
If Jones and/or Kirk cannot take the field in Week 18, Jacksonville will likely turn to WR Calvin Ridley and TE Evan Engram to bat clean-up.
Ridley is WR24 on the season and has had flashes of brilliance in 2023, and Engram has been having a stellar showing, with 884 yards receiving and three TDs on the year.
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