The availability of quarterback Trevor Lawrence for the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Week 18 matchup against Tennessee remains uncertain, according to head coach Doug Pederson.
Lawrence, dealing with a sprained right AC joint that kept him out of the previous game against Carolina, is still under evaluation. Pederson stated that Lawrence will undergo assessments throughout the week to determine if he can return for the upcoming game, whether played on Saturday or Sunday.
In Lawrence’s absence, C.J. Beathard started in the Jaguars’ recent 26-0 victory over the Panthers, and Pederson emphasized that Beathard, along with backup Matt Barkley, would be prepared if Lawrence isn’t available.
Lawrence sustained the injury to his right (throwing) shoulder during the Jaguars’ loss to Tampa on December 24, ending his streak of 49 consecutive starts since being drafted first overall in 2021. Beathard, in his first start since the 2020 regular-season finale with San Francisco, had a solid performance, completing 17 of 24 passes for 178 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.
The Jaguars, now 9-7, secured back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2004-05. A win against the Titans (5-11) in the upcoming game would grant them the AFC South title for the second consecutive year.