The Jacksonville Jaguars are 8-7 following their embarrassing loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16. To make matters worse, Trevor Lawrence exited the game with a shoulder injury. Tests on Monday revealed it's a sprain but it's not thought to be serious.
While it's uncertain how much time Lawrence is set to miss out, there's a strong chance he'll do what he can to play, based on his willingness to push through injuries this season. He entered concussion protocol after the loss to the Baltimore Ravens but was cleared Saturday to play against the Buccaneers. Something similar happened in the loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Lawrence suffered an ankle sprain and was limited in practice on the days preceding the game against the Cleveland Browns. He was questionable to play but he ended up starting behind center. Same as Week 7, when he was dealing with a knee injury but still managed to suit up.
That's a concerning amount of injuries and a big reason Lawrence's play has been less than ideal in recent weeks. During the Jaguars' four-game losing streak, the third-year quarterback has completed 60.93 percent of his passes for 990 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions. On top of that, he's fumbled five times and lost three of them.
It's fair to assume that injuries have hindered Lawrence's performance. This is why it may be in everybody's best interest to sit him out the rest of the season. Here are three reasons to do it, and two why he should start the rest of the way.
3 reasons the Jaguars must sit out Trevor Lawrence the rest of the 2023 season
3. Trevor Lawrence hasn't played well
Heading into the Buccaneers game, Doug Pederson told the media he would like Lawrence to start because he gives them the best chance to win. He then added that every team would make the same choice. That said, it's hard to justify keeping Lawrence on the field based on his performance.
Make no mistake, Lawrence has shown he's capable of playing at an absurd level but he isn't right now, and it's fair to recognize that. By resting him, he'll have the chance to recharge batteries and get a bit healthier for the playoffs — if the Jags qualify, of course.
2. The Jaguars would be exposing Lawrence to further risk
There's an element of randomness to injuries in the NFL. They're an inherent part of the sport, so as much as players and teams want to avoid them, they'll happen regardless of the steps they take to prevent them. In Lawrence's case, the odds have been against him this season.
Steezy Trev has already suffered four separate injuries since Week 6. The Jaguars cannot keep exposing him until he gets fully healthy. It's true that players are pretty dinged up at this point of the season but he isn't dealing with cuts and bruises but rather with injuries that affect his performance.
Whether he can move his shoulder, or plant his foot on the ground, Lawrence isn't 100 percent right now, so it would make sense to go with C.J. Beathard the last two games of the season. After all, you don't pay your backup quarterback just to hold a clipboard. Now, it would be a good time to use his services.
1. Trevor Lawrence's long-term health could be compromise
All things considered, Trevor Lawrence should be grateful he's sustained "minor injuries" this season, meaning he hasn't had to miss time or undergo the knife. That said, it's taking a toll on him, and the Jags need to protect the face of the franchise. He'll try to push to play but the team's brass needs to take care of him.
Something like a torn ACL would forcing to miss a significant portion of the offseason. Regardless of how things go in 2023, the Jags will surely want him to be around for years to come and the only way it will happen is if they shut him out while he gets healthy.
Two reasons the Jaguars should play Trevor Lawrence if he can go
2. The Jaguars are entering a pivotal time of the season
The Jaguars are in must-win mode right now. Losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers keeps them in a three-way tie with the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts for first place in the AFC South. If there's one thing Jacksonville has proven is that they can drop a game even with teams that are seemingly less talented. It happened against the Cincinnati Bengals and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Against Cincy, the Jaguars managed to make Jake Browning look like Joe Burrow 2.0. Similarly, Baker Mayfield had one of his best games of the season when they faced the Jacksonville defense. Of course, that falls solely on the defense's shoulders since Lawrence didn't play his quarterback counterparts. Then again, the offense though hasn't been clicking either, and not having Lawrence behind center could make things worse.
1. There's a dropoff from Trevor Lawrence from C.J. Beathard
While it's understandable that Doug Pederson wants his starter to play, their lack of faith in C.J. Beathard is a tad concerning. If they trust him to do a good job, why not roll with him while Trevor Lawrence recovers?
Of course, there's always be a dropoff from the starter to the second-string quarterback but if the Jaguars feel fine about No. 16 playing through injuries, maybe it's because they know Beathard may not give them a good chance to win.
If that's the case, an injured Lawrence is then their best chance to not only make the playoffs but also to make a deep push. It's silly to suggest it but that could be the case given the team's insistence to thrust Lawrence into action despite injuries.