For the first time in his National Football League (NFL) career, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is sitting out of a game. Lawrence is ailing with a shoulder injury. In addition, he’s dealing with a lingering high ankle sprain suffered in the Jaguars’ overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals earlier this month.
In Lawrence’s stead is CJ Beathard, getting his first start in a Jaguars uniform. Beathard joins a long list of backup quarterbacks thrust into action due to injuries or performance. Beathard has appeared twice in extended relief of Trevor Lawrence: the aforementioned loss to the Bengals (9-10, 63 yards in 7:00 of game time) and last week’s humbling defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-15, 94 yards, TD in 4:55 of game time).
How good is CJ Beathard?
The former third-round pick out of Iowa has a passer rating of 81.6 across six seasons of play. CJ Beathard has not played a full season of football without getting injured or benched. He began his NFL career in San Francisco where, in 2017, he threw for 1,430 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions over seven games. After that, he has never played more than six games in a season. Beathard has a 2-10 record as a starter, his last win coming against the Arizona Cardinals on December 26, 2020.
Who will get reps?
With Trevor Lawrence out, CJ Beathard will need to make skill position friends and fast. He has already established a rapport with tight end Evan Engram (9-10, 77 yards) and Calvin Ridley (4-6, 53 yards, TD), but will need to connect better with Zay Jones (1-2, 7 yards, not targeted vs. Buccaneers). How much Beathard leans on the run game is to be determined, for both games he’s stepped in to necessitated a pass-heavy attack.
The Jaguars have an easy matchup in front of them: the Carolina Panthers. The pressure is still on, though, as a loss would be their fifth straight. The Jaguars made a miracle last season. Do they have another one in them without their franchise quarterback?
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