Report: Trevor Lawrence is ‘unlikely’ to play Sunday and ex-Patriots QB Mac Jones is next in line
"Trevor Lawrence will likely not play Sunday. Mac Jones is the backup"
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is unlikely to play on Sunday against the Vikings, according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport. Mac Jones, who started for the Patriots last year, is next in line if Lawrence is unable to play.
Rapoport quote-tweeted a post from former Jaguars offensive coordinator Jay Gruden that said that Lawrence would need surgery on his injured shoulder.
“No surgery scheduled, Jay,” Rapoport wrote. “There are several options immediate and down the road That’s one of them. He’s considered day-to-day with a left shoulder. But as he considers these options, Trevor Lawrence will likely not play Sunday. Mac Jones is the backup.”
Jones was the first quarterback to go through drills at Jaguars practice on Thursday, according to Mia O’Brien who covers the Jaguars for Jacksonville radio station 1010 XL.
Jaguars coach Doug Peterson was noncommittal about Lawrence’s status, according to Rapoport.
Jones has not made a regular-season start since he was benched by Bill Belichick following a loss to the Giants last November. He has appeared in two games this season, completing six of his nine passing attempts for 28 yards.
The former first-round pick struggled during his final season with the Patriots, throwing 12 interceptions against 10 touchdowns. New England’s offense tied Carolina for dead last in the NFL last season.
Jones got a fresh start this offseason when New England traded him to his hometown Jaguars for a sixth-round pick. The Patriots used the pick to draft Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton, who is third on the depth chart behind Drake Maye and Jacoby Brissett.
Jones is 18-24 as an NFL starter. More than half of the wins came during his rookie season, when the Patriots went 10-7 while Josh McDaniels was offensive coordinator. New England went 2-9 over Jones’s final 11 starts.
Jaguars coach Doug Peterson praised Jones for his performance during the preseason. He also said that Jones sometimes has reverted to the old habits that didn’t suit him well when he in New England.
“He’ll still revert back to his Patriot ways every now and then and we’ve got to remind him he’s in Jacksonville, but he’s done a good job,” Peterson said back in August. “He’s done a good job managing and running the offense, getting everybody involved. He sees the field well, throws a good ball, so he’s done a good job.”
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