After years of battling injuries, enduring coaching changes, and facing “generational” prospect expectations, Trevor Lawrence is enjoying a career year in his fifth season with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The former Clemson star quarterback is living up to the hype that made him the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2021 and is helping turn the Jaguars into a Super Bowl contender.
On ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown ahead of Jacksonville’s regular season finale against the Tennessee Titans in Week 18, Lawrence sat down with ESPN’s Jeff Darlington as he prepares to lead the red-hot Jaguars into the playoffs under first-year head coach Liam Coen.
Lawrence, who has certainly had his ups and downs over the start of his NFL career while experiencing success and also overcoming adversity, reflected on the journey that got him to this point.
“There’s been some great highs. There’s been some lows, as far as my career here and just all the changes and all the different things that have happened,” Lawrence said, “and I’ve just learned a lot coming out the other side and continuing to be myself and pressed forward. It feels good to be where we’re at now and to reap some of these benefits of us winning and playing well offensively and seeing it all come together.”
Lawrence completed 22 of 30 passes for 255 yards and threw three touchdown passes this past Sunday as the Jaguars (13-4) clinched the AFC South title with a 41-7 victory over the Titans. With his three touchdown passes in the first half, Lawrence set the franchise record for total touchdowns in a season (38), and during the game, he also reached 4,000 passing yards on the season.
The Jags will head into the playoffs having won eight straight games and nine of their last 10 since their bye. Jacksonville will host the Buffalo Bills (12-5) in an AFC Wild Card Playoff game this Sunday (1 p.m., CBS).
You can check out Lawrence’s full conversation with Darlington on Sunday NFL Countdown below:
–Photo courtesy of Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images