On Thursday, Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Pederson was able to provide an update on the two notable injuries that occurred earlier this week in organized team activities to outside linebacker Jordan Smith and backup quarterback C.J. Beathard. As previously reported, the former will be out for the season with a knee injury, however, the news is a bit better for the latter.
Beathard, who injured his groin and had to be carted off the field Monday, is expected to be good to go when training camp arrives next month. However, Pederson added that his progress over the summer would be a key factor in his return.
“Jordan Smith. As of right now, obviously it’s a knee injury,” Pederson said. “I believe surgery’s scheduled here in the next couple of weeks on him and obviously he’ll miss the season. C.J. [Beathard] is a little bit better, a bit better news on C.J. Again, [it’s an injury in the] lower body, groin area and he should be okay for training camp. We’ll just wait and see as it progresses over the summer.”
When looking at the experience in terms of years in the NFL, Beathard leads the Jags’ quarterbacks room in that category. He was drafted in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers out of Iowa and spent three seasons in the Bay Area.
He signed a two-year deal with the Jags last offseason but didn’t have to start in any games during his first season on the team. However, he entered this season with 12 career starts and has played in 21 games. As for his stats, he’s managed to garner a 58.7% career completion rate (293-of-499) for 3,502 yards, 13 interceptions, and 18 touchdowns.
If Beathard needs more time when training camp arrives, the Jags have good depth at the quarterback position behind Trevor Lawrence. They have third-year player Jake Luton, who has three career starts, and undrafted rookie EJ Perry.
The veterans have been given mandatory minicamp off, so Luton is also done until training camp. However, Perry will have the opportunity to continue working and will have a few more days to work with the coaches before taking his summer break.