Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence has a knee sprain, status uncertain for Thursday night

Get ready for another potentially lackluster Thursday night game if Trevor Lawrence is unable to play.

Thursday nights have been less than thrilling this season, and the latest news is that Lawrence’s status for the Jacksonville Jaguars-New Orleans Saints game on Thursday is uncertain. Lawrence suffered a knee sprain, and while it’s not a serious injury, the Jaguars are still unsure if he will be able to take the field this week according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The short turnaround time between games is a major factor in his availability.

If Lawrence is unable to play, the Jaguars will turn to C.J. Beathard as their backup quarterback. While Beathard does have 12 career starts under his belt, the record is less than stellar, as the San Francisco 49ers went 2-10 in those games, and he hasn’t started a game since 2020.

This would be the first game Lawrence has missed in his three NFL seasons. During last Sunday’s game, Lawrence was slow to get up after taking a hit late in the fourth quarter. He was then replaced by Beathard for some kneeldowns, with the Jaguars comfortably leading 37-20.

The Jaguars are currently on a three-game winning streak and sit atop the AFC South division with a 4-2 record. Protecting their franchise quarterback’s long-term health is a priority, which makes the decision to start Lawrence against a strong Saints defense a delicate one.

If the Jaguars-Saints game was scheduled for Sunday, Lawrence would have a few extra days to recover. Unfortunately, missing one of the game’s biggest stars is likely to dampen the excitement for Thursday night’s matchup.