Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence active, will start vs. Saints despite knee injury
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is suiting up against the New Orleans Saints in prime time on Thursday Night Football. He was not among the inactive players list that came out about 90 minutes prior to kickoff.
According to NFL Media's Cameron Wolfe, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson told him that Lawrence will start tonight after he finished a 20-minute pre-game warm-up. About an hour before kickoff, the Jaguars confirmed Wofe's report that Lawrence will start.
Lawrence entered the game 'questionable' to play due to a left knee injury suffered during the team's Week 6 victory over the Indianapolis Colts last week.
Prior to the game, Lawrence was seen sporting a knee brace on his left knee in warmups that forced the third-year QB to miss the majority of practice time this week, working on a limited basis both Tuesday and Wednesday. Lawrence would not have practiced the first day of practice this week if it were a typical game week.
Live updates: The latest from Jaguars vs. Saints
As he indicated as a likely possibility Tuesday, Lawrence is wearing a protective knee brace during the game as well.
Earlier this week, Lawrence expressed optimism about playing against the Saints.
"I really like how I’ve progressed every day and it’s been really good," Lawrence said Tuesday. "I’m optimistic, but of course we’re going to have to make that decision Thursday. We’ll go from there, but right now is not the day to do that.”
Lawrence has never missed a game in his NFL career, starting all 40 games, not including playoffs, he has played in since becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
In the event that Lawrence is unable to finish the game, the Jaguars will turn to backup QB C.J. Beathard, who has been the team's backup QB since 2021. The seventh-year vet has started 12 games in his career and has completed 59 percent of his passes for 3,546 yards, 18 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
'I'm optimistic': Trevor Lawrence gives update on knee injury ahead of game vs. Saints
The Jaguars signed QB Nathan Rourke to the team's active roster Wednesday prior to the team's Thursday kickoff to act as an emergency quarterback in the event both Lawrence and Beathard cannot continue to play due to injury. Rourke can only be used if both Lawrence and Beathard are ruled out due to injury.
If Rourke does enter the contest, neither Lawrence nor Beathard will be eligible to play.
The Jaguars entered this week's matchup as one-point underdogs due in part to Lawrence's injury.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82.
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Trevor Lawrence status: Jaguars quarterback will start vs. Saints
