Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has been through enough this season, so the Jacksonville Jaguars are giving him the break he deserves.
On Wednesday, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported Lawrence is slated to undergo surgery on the AC joint in his left shoulder “in the coming weeks.” Rapoport added the Jaguars will shut him down for the rest of the season.
Jacksonville already placed Lawrence on injured reserve after he suffered a concussion in a 23-20 Week 13 loss to the Houston Texans.
The Jaguars (2-10) have been eliminated from playoff contention. Continuing to put Lawrence at risk would make no sense for Jacksonville, especially after he signed a five-year, $275M contract extension this offseason.
The 25-year-old’s health was a concern before the season started. Per ESPN’s Michael DiRocco, the concussion was the sixth injury the 2021 No. 1 overall pick has suffered since Week 6 of the 2023 season. During this span, he has had another concussion, two shoulder injuries, a knee issue and an ankle problem.
He’s tried to play through the pain over the past two seasons, missing just three games. Perhaps that explains why the former Pro Bowler’s play has declined in 2024.
In 10 starts, Lawrence is 2-8, completing 60.6% of his passes for 2,045 yards, 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also has posted a below-average 85.2 passer rating, the second-lowest mark of his four-year career.
Backup QB Mac Jones — the 15th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft — will likely replace Lawrence. He filled in for him earlier this season, going 0-2 and throwing three interceptions and no TD passes in two starts.
While Jacksonville will likely continue to flounder without Lawrence, the franchise is making the right move. The QB needs more time to get healthy.
