Trevor Lawrence likely out; Mac Jones would start vs. Vikings - ESPN

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It does not appear that Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence will play against the Vikings on Sunday because of his left shoulder injury, coach Doug Pederson said Friday morning.

«It is trending toward [Lawrence] not playing,» Pederson said.

Mac Jones, whom the Jaguars acquired via trade in March, would start against the Vikings if Lawrence is out. C.J. Beathard, whom the Jaguars signed off the Miami Dolphins' practice squad on Wednesday, would be Jones' backup.

This would be just the second game that Lawrence has missed since the Jaguars drafted him first overall in 2021. He did not play against the Carolina Panthers in Week 17 last season because of an injury to his right, throwing shoulder.

Lawrence was injured in the first half of Sunday's 28-23 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles when he was hit while diving headfirst on a run. He didn't miss a snap against the Eagles and had the Jaguars in position to score a go-ahead touchdown but was intercepted by linebacker Nakobe Dean in the end zone with 1:40 remaining.

Lawrence was limited in practice all week.

On his weekly radio show Thursday afternoon, Pederson hinted that Lawrence wasn't likely to play against the Vikings because of what happened last season when the quarterback battled through a concussion and ankle and shoulder injuries over the final six games and wasn't able to fully practice.

«What I learned last year is if we know early in the week that he's not going to play, don't play him,» Pederson said. «Let him get healthy, let him heal because he can't miss those reps in practice. He's got to stay on track. He can't miss necessarily a Wednesday, Thursday, maybe even a Friday, a limited Friday, and expect from the quarterback position to