JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Trevor Lawrence returned to practice on Thursday, a positive step in his recovery from a shoulder injury that forced him to miss the first game of his NFL career.
Now, the countdown is on to see if Jacksonville’s franchise quarterback can return for the biggest game of the season.
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Lawrence did some light throwing drills in the media viewing portion of practice as the Jaguars continue to monitor the improvement to his throwing shoulder. If Lawrence can’t go, then Jacksonville will give C.J. Beathard his second start, which would be the biggest of his career. Beathard played well last week against Carolina, his first start since Jan. 3, 2021, when he was with San Francisco. And that recent performance is why the Jaguars feel confident if Beathard has to make another start on Sunday against the Titans.
“I think our guys have a lot of belief in C.J., but it’s one thing to say that from what you’ve seen in preparation and practice and preseason and things like that,” said offensive coordinator Press Taylor. “For him to go out, execute the gameplan, lead our team to a win, protect the football; I think that just increases everybody’s level of respect and trust in him and what he’s capable of.”
Jacksonville (9-7) is in a must-win situation entering Sunday’s game against the Titans (5-11). They’d like nothing more than to have their franchise quarterback under center for that one.
The easiest path to the playoffs is a win over Tennessee. That would clinch back-to-back division titles, something that’s happened just once in franchise history. Jacksonville won consecutive AFC Central championships in 1998-99.
A season sweep of the reeling Titans would give them the AFC South crown and a guaranteed home playoff game. They could still sneak in as a wild-card team with a loss, but that would require a Steelers win over the Ravens and a Broncos win over the Raiders.
They’re not thinking about those scenarios. Jacksonville hasn’t played well in big games this year. It lost to the Chiefs in Week 2, lost in overtime to the Bengals on Monday Night Football and then lost to the Ravens on Sunday Night Football.
“We haven’t handled that extremely well this year. One thing about this team as you guys know, they come out and play hard when their back is against the wall a little bit,” coach Doug Pederson said. “They seem to find comfort in that. I’ll keep talking to them and we’ll get it figured out.”
The Jaguars ended a four-game losing streak in Week 17 with a 26-0 romp over Carolina, the league’s worst team. Beathard started in place of Lawrence, who suffered an AC joint sprain while diving for a first down late in a 30-12 loss to Tampa Bay in Week 16.
Tennessee is wrapping up a disappointing season under coach Mike Vrabel. In Week 18 last year, the Titans faced Jacksonville with the AFC South title on the line. The Jaguars won 20-16. This year, little has gone right for the Titans. They teetered on a rebuild in the offseason but seem headed in that direction this year.
Running back Derrick Henry, who turned 30 on Thursday, could be playing in his final game with Tennessee on Sunday. Henry was named to his fourth Pro Bowl on Wednesday night, but he is in the final year of his contract. Tennessee seems positioned to build with rookie quarterback Will Levis. Even with nothing to play for from a postseason standpoint, the Jaguars don’t view the Titans a gimmie.
“I think there’s always kind of that thought process, you have a team that technically has nothing to play for where you say that. The NFL just doesn’t tend to work that a lot of times,” Taylor said. “You’re going to get everybody’s best shot, playing a team like Tennessee, you know what they’re going to be. … They certainly have our attention, our respect and we don’t expect them to lay down or anything.”