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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Robert Zeglinski

Jaguars’ Doug Pederson admitted a cold-blooded Trevor Lawrence went rogue on a big TD run

Trevor Lawrence Doug Pederson Jaguars Jacksonville Jaguars Jacksonville (Organization) NFL Titans

As the Jacksonville Jaguars start to wind down the 2022 regular season, they can take solace in one thing: Trevor Lawrence’s recent blossoming at quarterback.

In two of his last three games — against two of the NFL’s better defenses in the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans — Lawrence threw for 300-plus yards and three scores. (Urban Meyer, eat your heart out.) But as the No. 1 overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft begins to piece it all together, a play against Tennessee where he actually kept the ball in his hands is in the spotlight.

With Lawrence and the Jaguars trying to take a two-score lead halfway through the third quarter on Sunday, the second-year signal-caller took it in himself on a diving TD:

Look at that athleticism — the stiff arm of the free linebacker. The extension of his arm once the end line was in sight. A picture-perfect play for a bright signal-caller in a big-time 36-22 win.

In his recap press conference on Monday, head coach Doug Pederson revealed that the run wasn’t a “planned” play by Lawrence — much to the surprise of the Jacksonville coaching staff. In fact, the original play-call was supposed to be a hand-off to Travis Etienne Jr. Instead, Pederson said that Lawrence saw something he liked in the Titans’ defense and called his own number on the fly to run it in for the score:

I know these conversations are a little more nuanced and complicated, but if Lawrence is already making such confident audibles — even overriding the coaches developing him — you have to think the pro game has really slowed down for him.

What’s more, if Lawrence continues making plays like this, the Jaguars might have a legit shot at the 2022 AFC South title. Should matters break their way, a Week 18 matchup with the Titans in Jacksonville could be for all the marbles. By that point, I probably wouldn’t bet against Lawrence putting on a show — whether he planned it or not.

NFL fans loved hearing about Lawrence's impromptu confidence to call his number on his TD run

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