C.J. Beathard, Lawrence’s backup for three seasons, will start if Lawrence is unavailable.
“At this point, it’s really just a mindset,” said Beathard, who told media that Lawrence was at the Miller Electric Center – the Jaguars’ training facility – Wednesday.
Beathard has started 12 games in seven NFL seasons – with all 12 starts coming for the San Francico 49ers, where he played from 2017-2020. He is 2-10 as a starter with 18 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
Beathard on Wednesday took first-team repetitions. He also practiced extensively with first-team repetitions with Lawrence’s status in doubt entering games against the New Orleans Saints (Week 6) and Cleveland Browns (Week 14).
“To me, it’s the same,” Beathard said. “I’m taking a lot more reps and practice and stuff. I’m preparing the same way. You have to prepare as if you’re going to be going. Then hopefully Trevor clears protocol by the end of the week for sure.
“I’ve had a lot of practice at it whether it’s here or where I used to be. Even the games where the starter isn’t banged up, it’s just about preparing. You might have to go into the game. That’s just what you have to do.”
Other reasons for the Jaguars’ urgency:
The circumstances around the AFC South, which has tightened with the Jaguars losing three consecutive games – 34-31 in overtime to the Cincinnati Bengals, 31-27 to the Cleveland Browns and to the Ravens.
The Jaguars after a Week 12 victory over the Houston Texans were 8-3 with a two-game lead in the South over the Texans and Indianapolis Colts. They also held tiebreaker advantages over both teams. They are now tied for the lead with the Texans and Colts, in first place because of a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Colts and a better division record than the Texans.
“I don’t know if you ever want to feel desperate,” Pederson said. “I think you have to feel a sense of maybe your back’s against the wall…
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