Friday Injury Update on Trevor Lawrence
By: Gavin Oliver January 5, 2024

Trevor Lawrence missed the Jacksonville Jaguars’ win over the Carolina Panthers last Sunday in Week 17 due to a right shoulder injury, and his availability for Week 18 could come down to a game-time decision, per Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson.

Pederson met with the media Friday and gave the latest on Lawrence’s status, saying he expects the franchise quarterback to be designated as questionable ahead of Sunday’s crucial regular season finale against the Tennessee Titans.

“If he’s good to go, he’s good to go,” Pederson said regarding Lawrence’s status. “We’ll just be, I don’t want to say cautious, but he’ll just have to know that listen – he’ll try to do everything he can to protect himself, but at the same time, if he’s out there, he’s rolling and will go play.”

Lawrence made 49 straight starts to begin his NFL career before missing last Sunday’s game. The former Clemson star, and No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, has completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 3,736 yards and 19 touchdowns with 12 interceptions in 15 games this season.

Lawrence was officially listed as a limited participant in practice on Wednesday and Thursday, and Pederson said Friday’s practice – Jacksonville’s last one of the week — would “be a big day” for Lawrence as he increased his workload and threw more.

“Not only the work (in practice), but just the timing of the throwing and just getting through the game plan today, because there’s not a ton of reps on a Friday and (we’ve) kind of condensed everything,” Pederson said. “So, just seeing how he handles all that. He’s been plugged in and engaged all week mentally, so now it’s just the physical part.”

“He’s worked a lot with our trainers on the side,” Pederson added. “So today for me will be probably the first time to see him throw harder than what he did yesterday or the day before.”

The Jaguars (9-7), who snapped a four-game losing streak with Sunday’s 26-0 win over the Panthers, head into Week 18 with the same record in the AFC South as the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans.

If the Jaguars beat the Titans (5-11), they will clinch a second straight AFC South title. If the Jags lose, they can’t win the AFC South but could still get a wild-card spot with help from other teams.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport spoke about Lawrence during Friday’s Good Morning Football show as he tries to give it a go on Sunday.

“Trevor Lawrence still uncertain about whether or not he’s going to be able to get on the field for the Jaguars in a game they need to have essentially to get to the playoffs,” Rapoport said. “He’s dealing with a right shoulder sprain. Obviously missed last week. Has been a limited participant the last two days, and yesterday he threw. And it sounds like, from my understanding, he threw fine. It wasn’t obviously a hundred percent Trevor Lawrence. He’s not going to be 100 percent if he is able to play. But at least he is pushing to play. If he cannot go, CJ Beathard is their backup quarterback. Obviously started last week, did fine.”