When healthy, Trevor Lawrence is unquestionably the Jacksonville Jaguars starting quarterback. But on a short week, his status for Thursday night’s game against the New Orleans Saints remains unknown. And that’s with a positive update coming out of practice on Tuesday.
Lawrence suffered what’s been described as a knee sprain in the final minute of Jacksonville’s 37-20 victory over the Colts in Week 6. According to reports, the injury doesn’t appear to be anything that should affect the 24-year-old Lawrence long-term, as an MRI cleared him of any structural damage to his injured knee.
While the Jaguars remain mum on Lawrence’s status for Thursday Night Football, the third-year quarterback out of Clemson spoke to the media after practice on Tuesday, saying that he “will do everything he can” to play on Thursday night.
“I’m gonna do everything I can to be out there.” – @Trevorlawrencee#JAXvsNO | #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/0ZVms87mIc
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) October 17, 2023
And according to backup C.J. Beathard, that appears more than “likely.”
“Shoot, I’ve been here two-and-a-half years with him and he hasn’t missed a single game,” Beathard said Tuesday after practice, via USA Today’s Jaguars Wire. “He’s as tough as they come and I know he’s doing anything and everything he can right now to be ready to play. I mean, it’s still very likely that he plays this week.”
Interestingly, Beathard would be the one to say that, especially because he’d be inserted in the starting lineup if Lawrence was unable to go. But it just goes to show how highly Lawerence’s teammates think of him, and they’ve seen the talented gunslinger play through injuries before.
Lawrence has started every game since being the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Beathard has started in 12 games throughout his six-year NFL career. Of those starts, he hasn’t had much success, going just 2-10 in those games. So even with Lawrence not at 100 percent, he’s Jacksonville’s best option for Thursday.
