Welcoming the Vikings in Jacksonville, the Jaguars aren’t really expecting a lot from their Sunday’s clash. As they are set to be without their QB Trevor Lawrence with a shoulder injury. It was during the second quarter in Philadelphia when the Jags QB took a brutal hit on his shoulder. Colliding head-first against the Eagles LB Zack Baun, Lawrence suffered an injury on his non-throwing shoulder.

Although there were initial reports of a surgery being needed. Those claims have now been addressed, as Ian Rapoport says no surgery is scheduled. There are multiple options that the Jaguars are exploring to bring their QB back into the lineup. Having been declared day-to-day with his left shoulder injury, Lawrence is doing everything he can to return quickly.

“I’m doing everything I can to be out there. When I’ve gotten banged up in the past, just try to do everything I can during the week to prepare myself to play Sunday and put as much time as possible into that and getting healthy. That’s the way my mind is right now.” Missing out on Lawrence at the center, the Jags threw their hat towards veteran QB C.J. Beathard. Although Beathard had already spent the offseason in Jacksonville, he was eventually released before the start of this season. Signing him from the practice squads, the Jaguars wanted to keep their options open before Lawrence made it back.

Apart from those two, the Jags No.2 this season is former Patriots first-round pick Mac Jones. Entering his third season in the NFL, Jones had a great rookie year for the Patriots, starting all of their games in 2021. However, for the last two seasons, Jones has been below average, to say the least. Throwing 24TDs with a record of 8-17 as a starter, Jones had 23 interceptions by his name before signing with the Jaguars this season.

Even though Lawrence could be deemed an injury-prone player in the last two seasons, he was once known as the ironman in the NFL.

Trevor Lawrence’s time in Jacksonville getting ridiculed with injuries

The Jaguars were on their way to securing a playoff berth last season by winning 8 of their first 11 games. However, a late-season collapse squished their chances of making it to the postseason. They ended their season with a 1-5 on the back of a four-game losing streak, thereby fumbling their playoff spot. Well, Lawrence’s constant injuries and lack of rest could have resulted in them missing out on the playoff spots.

It all started with a knee injury in week 7, but Lawrence didn’t miss a single snap as he managed to return the following week. But that was only the beginning of a series of injuries that curtailed their playoff ambitions. Taking on the Bengals in week 13, Lawrence suffered a high ankle sprain that led to him going off the field in the final quarter. Without him at the center, the Jaguars ended up losing 34-31 in overtime.

Next up, it was the Browns, where Lawrence was supposed to rest because of the high ankle sprain last week. However, he ended up playing all the snaps, but the Jaguars ended up losing that one, too. And, finally, the shoulder injury he suffered against the Bucs in week 16 was the final nail in his coffin.

With the Jags slated to take on the Panthers in week 17, it marked the first time Lawrence missed a clash in the NFL. His 49 consecutive starts finally came to an end. Despite missing out on the playoffs last season, Lawrence was handed a $275 million contract extension for five years.  But with the Jags sitting at the bottom of their division, it doesn’t look like Lawrence has been able to repay the faith shown by the franchise. And his injury issues are also starting to make quite the scene post-contract signing in Jacksonville.

While we wait for the Jaguars and Vikings clash on Sunday. Do check out our latest Think Tank exclusive interview with Emily and Erin Griffin as they continue to change the NFL’s game globally.