The Jacksonville Jaguars can clinch the AFC South title with a win against the Tennessee Titans. The Jaguars have led the division since Week 5 and had a two-game lead after Week 12. Jacksonville will be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss against the Titans.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has battled injuries for most of the season and is dealing with a shoulder injury going into Week 18. He injured his knee in Week 6 and missed only a final drive full of kneel-downs. In Week 13, Lawrence missed the last two drives against the Cincinnati Bengals after injuring his ankle.
His current injury happened against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16, and he missed the final quarter of an 18-point loss.
What Is Trevor Lawrence’s Status?
Update 01/07/2024: Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence is officially active and is expected to play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Jaguars listed Lawrence as questionable for Friday’s injury report. He was a limited participant in all three practices this week.
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said Friday that Lawrence has been progressing well and “If he’s good to go, he is good to go. He’ll try to do everything he can to protect himself, but at the same time, if he’s out there, he’s rolling.”
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Before he was injured, Lawrence completed 60.9% of his passes with seven touchdowns and five interceptions during the team’s four-game losing streak in December.
The earlier ankle and knee injuries didn’t slow down Lawrence’s running game. He’s averaging 21.9 rush yards per game, more than three yards over his average the first two seasons.
Who Would Replace Lawrence?
C.J. Beathard will start for the second straight week if Lawrence can’t start. Beathard completed 17 of 24 passes for 178 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions against the Carolina Panthers. The Jaguars won 26-0 to snap a four-game losing streak and place the team in a win-and-in situation this week.
Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor said this week that the team believes in Beathard. 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.”
Beathard led the Jaguars on a drive in the last two minutes of regulation to set up a game-tying field goal against the Bengals in Week 13. Jacksonville didn’t score on the first possession of overtime and lost on a late field goal.
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