Jaguars starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence has been ruled out of Jacksonville’s Week 10 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported early Sunday.
Rapoport noted that Lawrence is nursing a “significant” AC joint sprain in his left, non-throwing shoulder, suffered in Jacksonville’s Week 9 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
“Surgery is possible for Lawrence, sources say, though the current plan is for rest and rehab,” Rapoport wrote. “While the team has called him day to day, week-to-week is probably a more accurate description. Regardless of whether Lawrence plays moving forward, the injury is expected to limit him for the next several weeks.”
Jacksonville called Lawrence questionable for the game on its Friday injury report after his daily limited practice participation this week.
However, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson expressed doubt about Lawrence’s status on Friday, although he added he does not currently view Lawrence as a candidate to be placed on the injured reserve.
“He’s been very limited all week. It is trending, obviously, in a way that’s probably to not playing or leaning towards not playing,” Pederson said.
Lawrence, who signed a five-year, $275 million contract extension with Jacksonville this offseason, has completed 168-of-274 (61.3%) passes for 2,004 yards with 11 touchdowns and six interceptions in nine starts this season.
Since being selected No. 1 overall by the Jaguars in the 2021 NFL draft, Lawrence has thrown for 13,774 yards with 69 touchdowns, 45 interceptions and a 63.4% completion rate. He has added 1,077 yards and 14 touchdowns rushing.
Mac Jones will start in place of Lawrence at quarterback on Sunday. The Jaguars acquired the Jacksonville native, who played high school football for The Bolles School, from the New England Patriots via trade in March.
Jones has completed six-of-nine passes for 28 yards in relief of Lawrence this season and 66.1% of his career throws for 8,946 yards with 46 touchdowns and 36 interceptions, adding 327 yards and one touchdown rushing.
“I’ve got a lot of confidence,” Pederson said about Jones on Friday. “He’s somebody that prepares extremely hard, extremely well. He’s a smart kid. You go back to even some of the preseason stuff and what he did then, as far as preparation and all that and how he played. He’s going to be fine.
“He’ll be excited. Home game, home crowd, home fans, his people, so to speak. But [I have] a lot of confidence in him.”
