The Jacksonville Jaguars‘ 2023 season has been one with highs and lows. Heading into Week 17, they are 8-7 in the midst of a four-game losing streak.
However, that losing streak isn’t where the bad news ends. Jags star quarterback Trevor Lawrence will be out due to injury when they face the Carolina Panthers in a must-win situation. What happened?
Why Is Trevor Lawrence Out in Week 17?
Lawrence suffered a sprained right AC joint in his throwing shoulder late in a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16. In that game, he passed for 211 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.
The injury was suffered on a first-down run. He finished that final drive, throwing a touchdown, then was replaced by backup C.J. Beathard.
#TrevorLawrence
Now declared out with shoulder after initially staying in. More score than pure injury. pic.twitter.com/nzle2AAh3a— David J. Chao – ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) December 24, 2023
Lawrence was then a non-participant in each of the Jaguars’ practices before being officially ruled out on Friday. This will be the first missed game of his career due to injury at every level (he missed two games in college due to COVID-19 in 2020). He had previously started 49 consecutive regular-season games.
“This is a little unique because it’s throwing shoulder, which can make things a little more challenging as a quarterback,” said Lawrence. “It’s kind of hard to work around that compared to other body parts and things that are bothering you that you can kind of work around a little bit.”
The shoulder injury is the third different injury Lawrence has suffered in four weeks. He first suffered a high ankle sprain against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 13 and then a concussion against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 15. Despite the normal severity of those injuries, Lawrence was able to return in time from both.
In Lawrence’s absence in Week 16, he will be replaced by Beathard once again. Beathard was drafted in 2017 out of Iowa by the San Francisco 49ers. Since then, he has played in 31 games, starting 12. He’s passed for 3,708 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. His record as a starting quarterback is 2-10.
His most recent start came in 2020, when he started two games, going 1-1. In those two games, he passed for 787 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions. As a Jaguar, he’s had action in 10 games, passing for 239 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
MORE: Jacksonville Jaguars Depth Chart
“We all have ultimate confidence in C.J. that he’ll get himself ready to play the game — same with Trevor,” said Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor. “We expect both those guys to be prepared and ready to play.”
Although Lawrence is the future of the Jaguars franchise and one of the better quarterbacks in the league, he has had a rough season in 2023. In 15 games, he passed for 3,736 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He also added 329 yards, four touchdowns, and 12 fumbles on the ground.
If the Jaguars still defeat the Panthers and their division rival Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts both lose, the Jaguars would clinch the AFC South. However, if the Jaguars lose and both of those teams win, they would officially lose the South.
It is possible that the Jaguars could win and one of their division rivals wins, meaning Week 18 could come down to a “win and you’re in” situation. The Jaguars play the Tennessee Titans in Week 18, while the Texans and Colts play each other.
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