Even though the Jacksonville Jaguars made upgrades to the roster and brought in a quarterback-friendly coach in Liam Coen, Trevor Lawrence has yet to take his game to the next level this season. In his defense, he hasn't been dreadful. However, the Jags aren't paying No. 16 to be solid. They made him one of the highest-paid passers in the NFL last year. Yet, his performance doesn't match his salary.
Granted, Lawrence's supporting cast has let him down with drops, and penalties have certainly held him and the offense back. The fact that he may be worrying about not making mistakes could certainly be playing a role. That's probably why Coen's latest comments may just be what the fifth-year quarterback needed to hear to put it all together.
Jaguars HC Liam Coen wants Trevor Lawrence not to worry about making mistakes
Heading into the Week 11 bout against the Los Angeles Chargers, Liam Coen met with the local media. He expressed confidence in Trevor Lawrence, noting that he asked him to get overly invested in whether he makes mistakes.
"No, just a couple plays, you know. I mean, he made some really good throws too, in that game, and also made some critical plays with his legs," Coen responded when asked if Trevor Lawrence's hesitancy was evident in the loss to the Texans (12:29 mark). "There was just a few plays that ultimately you want back. And okay, what's causing this to not be executed is really just what it comes down to."
Coen continued, "And you always want your players to man like, who cares if it's incomplete, it's incomplete, you know? I mean, who cares? Just cut it loose, let it rip, and that's why you play. That's why you play. So that's more what the conversation was."
Lawrence completed 56.5 percent of his passes for 158 yards with one touchdown and one interception in Week 10. For the season, he has a completion rate of 59.4 percent for 1,998 with 10 touchdowns and 26 interceptions. It's important to point out that the Knoxville, Tennessee native has been sacked 26 times, and Jacksonville leads the league in drops with 31, so he's clearly not the biggest issue right now.
Trevor Lawrence has played at a high level in the past. He must do it in 2025
Trevor Lawrence has already shown that he can play at a high level. Back in 2022, he got hot in the second half and played a huge role in the Jags' turnaround. Similarly, the former Clemson Tiger put the team on his back the following year before injuries eventually derailed his season and exposed the roster's dearth of talent.
Heck, even as a rookie, Lawrence showed the capability to take deep shots and get his playmakers the ball despite the fact that the Jaguars had the incompetent Urban Meyer at the helm, and the team was devoid of talent.
The Jaguars need Trevor Lawrence to get hot to finish the season strong
Injuries are quickly ravaging the team. Although the Jags will soon be getting a massive boost once tight end Brenton Strange returns. They've also lost Travis Hunter for the season, and Brian Thomas Jr. is nursing a high ankle sprain.
It's hard to tell when Thomas will be back (it should be soon), but Lawrence will need to do without him and lean on Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington if the Jags want to have any hopes of making a playoff push.
More than ever, the Jaguars need their quarterback to play at a high level. The offensive line can't block, and the defense came crashing down in the collapse against the Houston Texans in Week 10. It's up to Trevor Lawrence to pick up the slack in times like this.