After a 2-7 start, just when it seemed nothing else could wrong, the Jaguars have the beastly Vikings to face up who have started 6-2 this season. That makes them one of the dark horses this season. It’s a tough matchup any way you slice it, but there’s more bad news for Jacksonville fans.

HC Doug Pederson just shared an update that’s about as welcome as a holding call on a touchdown play—QB1 Trevor Lawrence is likely out this Sunday. So, who’s taking the reins if Lawrence can’t go? Cue Mac Jones, who might be getting his first start since his Patriots days.

That’s right—Jones, fresh off the bench, is set to take on one of the NFC’s hottest teams. It’s a high-stakes scenario for a guy who hasn’t started in nearly a year. But hey, the NFL loves a comeback story, right? Maybe Jones will surprise us all with a bit of underdog magic. How would you feel about that?

The injury itself came courtesy of a nasty scramble against the Eagles last week. Lawrence took a hit to his non-throwing shoulder after a head-first dive (yeah, not exactly what fans wanted to see from their star QB). Eagles linebacker Zack Baun delivered a heavy hit. And it wasn’t in Jags playbook—no, not at all. Now, they have to make do without their QB1’s magic.

Lawrence was all over the place in week 9—he put up 169 passing yards but threw two interceptions, leaving fans scratching their heads. Sure, he managed two touchdowns, but both were on the ground. Not exactly reassuring for the arm. He didn’t really need his shoulder on those plays, but it was clear his performance suffered.

For a team looking to claw its way out of the season’s depths, losing Lawrence right before facing a team as strong as Minnesota is about as brutal as it gets. Feels like they have got their claws chipped off…doesn’t it?

A look at the Jags backup in Trevor Lawrence’s absence

So, what’s the deal with the Jags’ backups now that Trevor Lawrence is likely out? It’s a tough break! But it is what it is at this point. And this Friday update is not new, but there was a hope of some optimism. But after Wednesday, when Doug Pederson literally said: “Can’t answer that,” leaving fans in suspense, this was coming (more or less).

Now, with Lawrence on the sideline, its backup quarterback Mac Jones’ time to shine. The former Patriot, and Jacksonville native, has been with the Jags since March, after being traded for a 2024 sixth-round pick. While he hasn’t started since Week 12 last season, he’s been preparing like one. “I’ve done a great job sticking to my schedule as a starter…just going through each week and preparing like a starter,” Jones said. He’s ready. The question is, will he be able to get the job done?

But hey, don’t forget about C.J. Beathard. Jacksonville also signed him off the Dolphins’ practice squad. Beathard was with the Jags before and has 32 career games under his belt [though his record as a starter isn’t the prettiest (3-10)]. Still, he’s a seasoned backup who knows the system and could be a solid option if needed.

So, with Trevor Lawrence likely out, it’s all on Jones or Beathard to step up. Can they battle it out against the fierce Vikes? We’ll see. Either way, Jacksonville will have to rely on the backups to hold the fort down until the QB1 is back.