Tag: C.J. Beathard

Mac Jones pushes forward in Jaguars’ 20-7 preseason win over Bucs

Mac Jones pushes forward in Jaguars’ 20-7 preseason win over Bucs

There were more combined punt yards (553) than offensive yards (542) in Jacksonville’s 20-7 victory over Tampa Bay on Saturday night, a feat that perhaps should have been expected as the Jaguars and Buccaneers sat their starters for Week 2 of the 2024 preseason.

Mac Jones started at quarterback for the Jaguars with Trevor Lawrence and most of the first-team offense sidelined following joint practices with the Buccaneers this week.

In over a half of playing time, Jones completed 16-of-23 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns, with long scoring throws to wide receivers Parker Washington in the second quarter and Brevin Easton in the fourth.

Jacksonville went 8-of-11 on third down with Jones behind center, with only two failed conversions in his half as a starter. One was dropped by wide receiver Elijah Cooks on a crossing route, well past the line to gain and near midfield.

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson complimented Jones for his showing during the game. His competition for Jacksonville’s backup quarterback role, C.J. Beathard, played in the second half but exited early with a groin injury, leading to Jones’ reinsertion and second score of the night.

“I think he’s doing some good things. He’s staying composed,” Pederson said of Jones during an in-game interview with Brent Martineau of Action Jax Sports.

“We missed a big third down that would have been great to get but I think he’s seeing the field, he’s making good strong accurate throws and I believe he’s playing well.”

Beathard went 5-of-7 for 40 yards, taking three sacks but adding 10 yards over two rushes.

12 different Jaguars receivers caught a pass with Austin Trammell leading the team in receptions (four) and yards (75).

Defensively, defensive ends Breeland Speaks and Joe Gaziano, the latter of which signed with the Jaguars Friday, and defensive tackle Esezi Otomewo produced Jacksonville’s biggest impact plays against the pass, with one sack apiece.

Jacksonville’s coverage team played soundly, too, limiting Tampa Bay passers Kyle Trask and John Wolford to just 4.8 yards per attempt combined.

The Buccaneers averaged a solid 4.8 yards per rushing attempt but largely abandoned the running game into the second half.

Jacksonville will wrap up its preseason on the road next week, with the Jaguars heading to Atlanta to face the Falcons on Friday at 7 p.m. ET.

Jaguars trading for QB Mac Jones from Patriots

Mac Jones, who was taken 14 picks after Trevor Lawrence in the 2021 NFL draft, is headed to Jacksonville.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have reached a deal to acquire quarterback Mac Jones from New England Patriots in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The Jaguars’ No. 192 overall selection (one of the team’s two sixth-rounders) is headed to the Patriots, although the trade won’t be official until the new league year begins on Wednesday.

Jones, 25, was picked by the Patriots in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft, 14 selections after the Jaguars took quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 overall pick.

After beginning his career with a better year than Lawrence — earning Pro Bowl honors as a rookie with 3,801 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions — Jones regressed in the following two seasons and was benched for much of the 2023 season. He finished last year with 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 11 games.

The Jacksonville native, who attended The Bolles School, will presumably compete with C.J. Beathard to be the No. 2 player on the depth chart behind Lawrence.

With Lawrence dealing with several injuries in the final weeks of the 2023 season, Beathard stepped into the lineup and finished the year with 349 passing yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.

Beathard is under contract for the 2024 season with a $2.42 million salary cap hit. The Jaguars would save $1.92 million if they release him. Jones will come with a $2,785,410 cap hit and is also due to become a free agent in 2025.

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How the Jaguars helped the 49ers land QB Brock Purdy

The 49ers found their franchise quarterback in the most unlikely place, and it’s all thanks to the Jaguars … kinda.

When the San Francisco 49ers take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII, it’ll be the climax of one of the most unlikely Cinderella stories in NFL history.

Just two years into his career, Brock Purdy — the very last pick of the 2022 NFL draft — will try to lead his team to a Lombardi Trophy. Never before had a “Mr. Irrelevant” quarterback even started a regular season game before Purdy came along, let alone a Super Bowl.

And it’s all thanks to the Jacksonville Jaguars … kinda.

First, let’s rewind. In March 2021, the 49ers decided it was time to make a big change at the quarterback position. About a week after allowing their backup, C.J. Beathard, to leave in free agency, San Francisco traded away a massive amount (including first-round picks in 2022 and 2023) to the Miami Dolphins to move up for the No. 3 pick in the draft.

The newly acquired top three draft pick was used to select Trey Lance, a quarterback who started only four games in two seasons before the 49ers decided he was a bust and traded him to the Dallas Cowboys.

Instead, what proved to be the franchise-changing transaction of 2021 for the 49ers was the paltry two-year, $5 million deal Beathard received from the Jaguars.

Every year, the NFL awards compensatory draft selections to teams that suffered net losses in free agency in the offseason prior. For example, the Jaguars are expected to get a third-round pick this year because offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor left in free agency and signed a massive four-year, $80 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.

In 2022, the 49ers received three compensatory picks for their 2021 free agency losses. San Francisco got a pair of sixth-round picks for the departures of defensive linemen Solomon Thomas and Kerry Hyder, and the $2.5 million per year deal Beathard signed with Jacksonville was just barely enough to earn the 49ers a seventh-round compensatory pick.

That selection, the No. 262 pick in the 2022 NFL draft, was used to take Purdy. And the rest is history.

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Trevor Lawrence may be game-time decision for Week 18 vs. Titans

Trevor Lawrence’s status for Sunday may come down to the wire.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence will likely be questionable for a Week 18 game against the Tennessee Titans and a decision about his status for Sunday may not be made until game time, coach Doug Pederson said Friday.

“It’s day by day. Today will be a big day for him … he’s progressing good,” Pederson said. “There’s not a ton of reps on a Friday, we’ve kind of condensed everything, so just seeing how he handles all that. He’s been plugged in and engaged all week mentally. Now it’s just the physical part.”

Lawrence, 24, is dealing with a right shoulder injury he suffered in a Week 16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Last week, the third-year quarterback missed the first game of his NFL career and was replaced in the lineup by veteran backup C.J. Beathard.

With the Jaguars’ postseason hopes on the line in Nashville, the team is getting healthy at the right time with Christian Kirk potentially making his return Sunday too. Limited practice time in the last two weeks could make a strong performance from Lawrence challenging if he plays, though.

Through 15 games this year, Lawrence has 3,736 yards, 19 touchdown passes, and 12 interceptions. He’s also added four rushing touchdowns.

The Jaguars cruised to a 26-0 win against the Carolina Panthers with Beathard in the lineup, but also finished with only one touchdown in five trips into the red zone.

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5 Jaguars players to watch vs the Titans in Week 18

The Jaguars offense is finally starting to get healthy again.

The Jacksonville Jaguars aren’t completely out of the woods, but fans can breathe again. The team ended its four-game losing streak in Week 17, beating the Panthers in a 26-point shutout.

The Jaguars have now guaranteed themselves a winning record, but a win could move the Jaguars to 10-7 and clinch the AFC South title.

Tennessee is in a different place than it was last time the teams met, and a few key Jaguars will need to be at the top of their game to secure another win for Jacksonville.

Here are five Jaguars players to watch against the Titans in Week 18:

Jaguars vs. Panthers recap: Jacksonville ends skid with 26-0 blowout

The Jaguars ended their December skid with a much-needed blowout win against the Panthers.

The Jacksonville Jaguars finally got a December win, breezing through the Carolina Panthers in a 19-0 blowout in Week 17.

With Trevor Lawrence, Christian Kirk, and Zay Jones all out of action, the Jaguars still did more than enough to put the disastrous Carolina offense out of reach. C.J. Beathard didn’t finish with any touchdown passes, but avoided turnovers and led the Jaguars into range for four Brandon McManus field goals.

Running back Travis Etienne Jr. scored the only two touchdowns of the day when he broke free for a 62-yard score and bulldozed his way to a 1-yard touchdown late.

The Jaguars defense were the heroes of the day, though. After the Panthers managed 44 yards on their opening drive before turning the ball over on downs, Jacksonville forced a three-and-out on six consecutive Carolina drives. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that the Panthers finally got back across the 50-yard line.

Here’s how the Jaguars’ dominant Week 17 win at EverBank Stadium went down:

Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence ruled out vs. Panthers in Week 17

Trevor Lawrence will miss a game for the first time in his NFL career.

Trevor Lawrence will miss the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Week 17 game against the Carolina Panthers, the team announced Friday. C.J. Beathard will start at quarterback in his place.

Lawrence, 24, previously played through knee and ankle injuries, and was cleared from the NFL’s concussion protocol in time to play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But the shoulder injury the third-year quarterback suffered in a 30-12 loss last weekend kept him out of practice all week and will cause him to miss a game for the first time.

Beathard, 30, last started a game during the 2020 season while he was still a member of the San Francisco 49ers. The Jaguars also have 11th year veteran Matt Barkley on the roster.

Offensive tackle Cam Robinson and wide receiver Zay Jones are both questionable. It’d be a surprise if Robinson sat out Sunday after Jaguars coach Doug Pederson told reporters earlier in the week that the left tackle should be available. Jones sat out last week.

For the Panthers, the injuries are mostly on the defensive side of the ball with cornerback Troy Hill ruled out and cornerback Jaycee Horn questionable for the game.

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Jaguars sign QB Matt Barkley from Giants practice squad

With Trevor Lawrence dealing with another injury, the Jaguars added an 11th year veteran to their active roster.

The Jacksonville Jaguars signed veteran quarterback Matt Barkley to their active roster from the New York Giants’ practice squad, the team announced Tuesday.

Barkley, 33, is now the oldest player on the Jaguars’ roster. The 2013 fourth-round pick has now been with 11 different NFL franchises, including two stints each with the Arizona Cardinals and Buffalo Bills. The 11th year veteran has appeared in just 19 career games and started only seven. His last pass attempt was during the 2020 season.

Jacksonville spent the majority of the 2023 season with two quarterbacks, Trevor Lawrence and C.J. Beathard, on the active roster and former CFL star Nathan Rourke on the practice squad. That changed last week when the New England Patriots scooped Rourke up off waivers.

To address the loss, the Jaguars signed E.J. Perry to their practice squad. But with Lawrence’s status in doubt due to yet another injury, the Jaguars now have three quarterbacks on the active roster. On Tuesday, coach Doug Pederson said it’s too early to tell if Lawrence will be able to play Sunday against the Carolina Panthers and doubted that he’d be able to practice Wednesday.

To make room for Barkley, the Jaguars placed special teamer Daniel Thomas, who broke his forearm Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, on injured reserve.

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Trevor Lawrence ‘better than a coin flip’ for Week 16, says Doug Pederson

Doug Pederson likes Trevor Lawrence’s chances at clearing concussion protocol in time to play Sunday against the Buccaneers.

Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Pederson likes Trevor Lawrence’s chances at getting cleared from concussion protocol in time to play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

“Part of the protocol and where he’s at in the stages is that he can practice today,” Pederson said Friday. “That still doesn’t mean he’s cleared, but part of it is to go through a practice and the stress and all of that kind of stuff on him. So he’ll be out there today and going through it. … We’ll give him as much as we can, as much as he can tolerate.

“He is trending in the right direction and hopefully things go well today.”

So is it fair to call Lawrence a coin flip to play Sunday?

“I think it’s better than that, than a coin flip,” Pederson said. “But still, this is Friday and he’s still technically in the protocol until he can clear, so you really can’t even compare it to a coin flip. It has to be a yes or no type of deal.”

Lawrence, 24, landed in the NFL’s concussion protocol after self-reporting symptoms shortly after a 23-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 15. While both Pederson and backup quarterback C.J. Beathard said the quarterback was progressing well Wednesday, his absence in back-to-back practices made it appear as though a return in Week 16 was a long shot.

“Generally, if a quarterback — or really any player — is not able to practice Wednesday, not able to practice Thursday, it almost always that means the player is not going to progress fast enough through the concussion protocol to play on Sunday,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said Thursday night.

Lawrence was previously a game-time decision twice this season after suffering a knee injury in October and an ankle injury earlier in December. The third-year quarterback has never missed a game since getting drafted by the Jaguars in 2021.

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Trevor Lawrence ‘progressing well’ in concussion protocol

Doug Pederson and C.J. Beathard say that Trevor Lawrence is making positive progress while in the NFL’s concussion protocol.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is “progressing well” in his recovery from an injury that landed him in the NFL’s concussion protocol, coach Doug Pederson said Wednesday.

“You’ve got to follow the steps,” Pederson later said. “It’s really based on symptoms and how he feels. If he can sit in a meeting and tolerate a meeting, it’s okay. If not, then we don’t put him in there because you’re stimulating the brain. It’s just based on symptoms.”

Backup quarterback C.J. Beathard, who is in line to start against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers if Lawrence is unavailable, also said that the third-year quarterback is making positive progress.

“He’s doing better,” Beathard said. “He’s been in the building today. I got to talk to him and hang out with him today, so he’s doing good.”

There’s a five-step protocol that Lawrence and the Jaguars must follow before the quarterback can return to the field. While the positive comments on his progress and the fact that Lawrence was back in the building bode well for his chances at playing Sunday, it’s also unclear how far along in the return-to-participation protocol he is with the game just days away.

Lawrence, 24, has never missed an NFL game and sat out only two games at Clemson after testing positive for COVID. So far this season, he has 18 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions, as well as four rushing touchdowns.

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