The collective imaginations of the Jaguar faithful are running wild after leaked videos and reports from training camp indicate that first overall pick Trevor Lawrence is as good as advertised. Though he faces competition from Gardner Minshew II, the incumbent starter from the last two years who has had a solid camp himself, the rookie is clearly the team’s most talented option at quarterback.
Lawrence will make his debut in a Jags uniform on Saturday when the Jaguars take on the Cleveland Browns at home in their first preseason game. Coach Urban Meyer confirmed on Thursday that both Lawrence and Minshew will play in the preseason opener, but declined to say who will start the game. He instead praised Minshew’s work ethic throughout camp.
“He’s earned my respect. I love that guy,” Meyer said, via NFL.com. “He’s a warrior, competitor. He’s a fighter. I told him that. I just got great respect for Minshew. He brings it every day, every day.”
Since Jacksonville moved into position to select first overall, the expectation has widely been that Lawrence would line up under center for the season opener against Houston, barring unforeseen setbacks with his health. He’s now fully recovered from the shoulder surgery he underwent in the spring, and it’s not expected to impact him during the preseason.
Asked if there was a chance Lawrence isn’t the starter for the first game, Meyer once again left the question open for interpretation.
“Is there really a chance? I think we’ll answer that as we get closer,” he said.
Meyer has been hesitant to speak authoritatively on the quarterback battle, instead opting to praise both Lawrence and Minshew. However, one thing he has said is that the team wouldn’t play Lawrence for the sake of development. If Minshew puts the team in a better position to beat the Texans, he will start the opener.
“If he’s not the quarterback we think we can win with — we haven’t made that decision,” Meyer said earlier this week. “It’s not a four-year plan. It’s not fair to these players. It’s a one-year plan.”
There’s probably some misdirection going on here, and Lawrence starting Week 1 is more likely than not. But unless Meyer has already made the determination and is just keeping his cards close to the chest, it seems the competition between Lawrence and Minshew will continue into the preseason.