The Jacksonville Jaguars may have to prepare for life without Trevor Lawrence, at least for some games.
The 24-year-old play-caller got injured on Monday night, December 3, in the Jaguars' overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, 34-31. However, the latest update on his status could ease concerns about the rest of the Jaguars' season.
The top overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft reportedly suffered a high ankle sprain, which was a relief for Jaguars' fans, NFL.com reported.
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"Everything is stable, looks good. We'll see how he is in a couple of days," Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said on Tuesday, December 5.
Pederson is not entirely ruling it out as far as seeing Lawrence back on the field when the Jags face the Cleveland Browns in a Week 14 matchup on Sunday, December 10.
"I'm not going to put that timetable on Trevor," Pederson added.
C.J. Beathard gets a chance to shine
Assuming the worst, the Jaguars will have to explore their options. Pederson will likely turn to backup QB C.J. Beathard if Lawrence is unavailable.
Beathard replaced Lawrence in that loss to the Bengals. Pederson hopes the week will give the 30-year-old ample time to prepare for the Browns and see how things pan out. He will work with Luke Fortner on the Jags' offense heading into the Week 14 matchup with the Browns.
Pederson turns to emergency QB Nathan Rourke
If Beathard fails to make a good account of himself, next in line is Nathan Rourke. The only catch here is that the 25-year-old has yet to play an official NFL game, although Pederson may have seen something in him that could surprise NFL fans, per USA Today.
Rourke had a good run with Ohio State as a starter, helping the Bobcats win three straight bowl games. He spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons with the BC Lions, rewarding him with the Canadian Football League award for Most Outstanding Canadian. That paved the way for his entry into the Jaguars' practice squad, making him a mysterious and potential surprise package for Jacksonville.
Is it time to check out free-agent quarterbacks?
Pederson could check out the available play-callers in the free-agent market, which could be an extreme option. Among the names that the Jaguars may consider include:
- Colt McCoy
- Nick Foles
- Matt Barkley
Of course, this will be the last option, assuming that Lawrence is done for the season. Hence, it all depends on how he can get back on his feet and maintain his efficiency level.
The Jaguars appear upbeat that Lawrence can return and finish what he started this season. The Jags are 8-4 for the season and are still on course to make the postseason.
Before the Trevor Lawrence injury, the Jags were given a 99% chance to make the postseason. According to the New York Times Playoff Machine, that figure dropped to 97% after their loss to the Bengals.
Of all the options, good showings from Beathard and Rourke could buy Lawrence time. Lawrence's high ankle sprain may not be as severe, but expect Pederson to ensure he gets the proper time to heal well in preparation for the heavier games ahead.
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