Recent signing may be a sign Jaguars not confident in Trevor Lawrence's availability

• The Jaguars are adding insurance to their QB room ahead of Week 14.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) warms up before an NFL football matchup Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) warms up before an NFL football matchup Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] | Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

A vicious hit forced Trevor Lawrence to leave the division matchup against the Houston Texans. He's currently in concussion protocol, and ahead of Week 14, the Jacksonville Jaguars have made an addition to their quarterback room. This could be a sign that No. 16 may not suit up against the Tennessee Titans.

The Jags announced a handful of moves Tuesday. Some of them won't move the needle but adding quarterback John Wolford to the practice squad ensures that they have insurance in case Lawrence isn't available.

An undrafted free agent in 2020, Wolford spent his first three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. He played seven games with four starts, going 61-of-104 for 624 yards with one touchdown and five interceptions. The Wake Forest product was released last year but was promptly picked up by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He spent the 2023 season in their practice squad and was released again this past offseason.

During his stint with the Bucs, Walford was offered the chance to return to the LA active roster but chose to stay in Tampa Bay. For him to play, he'll need to be on the roster and active in the game.

In the past, teams could call a quarterback from the practice squad an unlimited number of times without having to use a roster spot. They would be designated emergency quarterbacks but could only take the field if the first and second-stringer had gone down.

The NFL has scraped the rule in 2024, and like other players, signal-callers can be promoted from the practice squad via standard elevation twice per season.

Aside from signing Wolford, Jacksonville also added punter Matt Haack and long snapper Tucker Addington to the practice squad. To make room for them, they released cornerback Tyler Hall, offensive lineman Jerome Carvin, and defensive end Joe Gaziano.

At 2-10, the Jaguars have been eliminated from playing contention, so they aren't in need of rushing Lawrence back to action. Aside from suffering a concussion, he had been dealing with an AC sprain on his non-throwing shoulder, so shutting him down for the year is a possibility.

The Jaguars are bracing for the possibility of not having Trevor Lawrence

One day after the 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans, Doug Pederson told the media that Trevor Lawrence was in concussion protocol. Last year, he was also in the protocol but only missed one game. These injuries are tricky, though, and there's a chance the fourth-year quarterback could miss more time.

By adding John Wolford to the practice squad, the Jaguars are protecting themselves in case Lawrence isn't available in Week 14. If that's the case, Mac Jones will make his third start of the season. He played much better than he did in his past two outings, completing 62.5 percent of his throws for 235 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Behind Jones, C.J. Beathard will be the primary backup. The former Iowa Hawkeye returned to Jacksonville in November after spending a couple weeks in the Miami Dolphins practice squad. He spent the last three years with the Jags but suffered a groin injury in the offseason and was released on roster cutdown day.

Having been eliminated from playoff contention, the Jaguars don't have much to play for but still want to finish strong. By bringing John Wolford in, they can do it without having to rush Trevor Lawrence back onto the football field.

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