The Minnesota Vikings are 6-2 through the season’s first nine weeks. Some of the wins were quite impressive, especially those against top opponents like the Houston Texans, the San Francisco 49ers, and the Green Bay Packers. The next few matchups, however, are scheduled to be with some underwhelming competition.
Jaguars Likely Without 1 Crucial Piece Against Vikings
On Sunday, the Jacksonville Jaguars will host the Vikings. A 2-7 team, the Jaguars are likely to make some massive changes in the next few months. The first change transpired a week ago when they shipped longtime starting left tackle Cam Robinson to Minnesota to replace the injured Christian Darrisaw on Sam Darnold’s blindside.
He had protected Trevor Lawrence since the former college standout was drafted first overall in 2021. It would be the passer’s first meeting with the Vikings, but he is unlikely to suit up, as Ian Rapoport reported on X:
“As Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence (left shoulder) continues to get treatment and weigh options for the future, sources say he’s considered unlikely to play Sunday vs the Vikings. Lawrence was limited in practice yesterday & coach Doug Pederson was noncommittal about his status.”
Lawrence signed a huge five-year contract extension worth $275 million before the season. It’s fair to say that he hasn’t quite lived up to the hype and the expectations, but he has still been a solid signal-caller for the Jaguars.
After a rocky rookie season with Urban Meyer calling the shots, he has played in 42 games under Pederson, tabulating 10,133 passing yards, 57 touchdowns, and 28 interceptions under the former Super Bowl champion. Lawrence has only missed one game in his NFL career.
Pro Football Focus ranks him (or his teammates, for that matter) third in total passes dropped, which surely doesn’t help him take the next step. In addition to that, the offensive line has suffered some injuries, and the decline of former star guard Brandon Scherff has been noticeable.
If Lawrence can’t go, former Patriots first-rounder Mac Jones would get the nod. The Jaguars acquired him for pennies on the dollar in the offseason as New England closed the chapter of Tom Brady’s successor, pivoting toward the Drake Maye era.
Jones, the former Alabama standout, undoubtedly had his best year in the NFL in his rookie season, throwing for 3,801 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. Since then, he has produced only 24 passing scores and 23 interceptions.
Unlike Lawrence, Jones doesn’t possess exciting physical tools, making a path as a career backup more likely. His only game against the Vikings occurred on Thanksgiving in 2022, when he had success against Ed Donatell’s defense, throwing for 382 yards and two touchdowns. The yards are still a career-high. He is now in the final year of his rookie contract and will enter free agency in 2025. Every opportunity is crucial for him to draw interest.
A significant piece of Jacksonville’s offense is Lawrence’s ability to push the ball down the field, targeting speedy rookie wideout Brian Thomas Jr. and his teammates Gabe Davis and Christian Kirk. The latter has been placed on IR with a broken collarbone and will miss the remainder of the season, including the contest against the Vikings.
Jones, meanwhile, doesn’t have the arm nor the legs to match Lawrence’s style, and Pederson will likely lean into a short passing attack without his usual starting quarterback.
At this point, Lawrence has not been ruled out. More clarity should arise on Friday.
Editor’s Note: Information from Over The Cap and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt