Jaguars news: No major injury believed for QB Trevor Lawrence after win vs. Colts

The Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6 but Trevor Lawrence had to exit the game with a knee injury. Lawrence said after the game that he felt fine and tests seem to confirm that the injury isn't serious.

Lawrence got an MRI on the knee and is currently day-to-day, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Media. The injury isn't believed to be major, which bodes well for his potential availability against the New Orleans Saints Thursday. After the game, head coach Doug Pederson said he had no updates on the injury but he will surely do when he meets with the local media Monday.

Against the Colts, Lawrence went 20-of-30 for 181 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Although he averaged just 6.0 per attempt (his second-lowest mark in 2023), he consistently found his receivers and avoided mistakes on a day in which the defense registered four turnovers and consistently rattled Gardner Minshew. For the season, the former Clemson Tiger has completed 67.1 percent of his passes for 1,439 yards with seven touchdowns and three interceptions.

If Lawrence isn't good to go Thursday, C.J. Beathard will get the starting nod against the New Orleans Saints, who are coming off a loss to the Houston Texans. Beathard signed with the Jags in 2021 but has rarely seen the field. During his three-year stint in Jacksonville, he's attempted 15 passes and completed 11 for 77 yards with one interception.

The Jaguars need to take a cautionary approach with Trevor Lawrence

All things considered, the Jaguars and Trevor Lawrence should be thrilled the injury isn't more serious. Not having him for a long stretch would put a significant dent in their playoff aspirations. Having said that, the top brass must proceed with caution. As Rapoport noted, he's day-to-day and a lot can happen between now and Thursday.

Lawrence could experience a setback or maybe his knee isn't close to 100 percent by game day. Either way, if the training staff believes he isn't a full-go, the team will be better off keeping him on the sidelines and letting him rest. It's true that New Orleans has one of the best defenses in the league but not having Lawrence in the lineup doesn't automatically guarantee Jacksonville will lose the bout.

Beathard is a vested veteran who will try to minimize mistakes and get his playmakers the ball. Having a defense that leads the league in turnover should also give the Jaguars a fighting chance. Either way, the sky won't be falling if Lawrence misses the game.

Conversely, there's a scenario in which Lawrence feels great and doesn't have to miss time. If that's the case, the Jags will have a legitimate chance to win on the road Thursday.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will soon provide updates on Trevor Lawrence's knee and his status for Thursday Night Football. Whether he suits up or not, the coaching staff will be working overtime to ensure they're in a position to beat the New Orleans Saints and move to 5-2.

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