Trevor Lawrence In Thursday Night Football, the Jacksonville Jaguars secured a thrilling victory against the New Orleans Saints. For most of the game, it seemed like an easy win for the Jaguars. Still, in the final three minutes, they needed some remarkable plays to seal the deal. The hero of the night was Christian Kirk, who caught a short pass from quarterback Trevor Lawrence and sprinted 44 yards into the end zone, putting Jacksonville ahead 31-24.
The Saints, led by Derek Carr, made a valiant effort to mount a comeback. However, their hopes were dashed by a crucial drop in the end zone by tight end Foster Moreau. Despite one last opportunity to score, Carr’s pass to Chris Olave was underthrown and batted down by a Jaguars defender.
This victory catapults Jacksonville to a 5-2 record, giving them an edge in the competitive AFC South. On the other side, the New Orleans Saints drop to 3-4, but they remain in contention in the NFC South, a division that has seen its share of ups and downs.
The big news of the night was the return of quarterback Trevor Lawrence. After suffering a knee injury last week, there were doubts about whether Lawrence would be fit to play. However, coach Doug Pederson confirmed that Lawrence would indeed start for the Jaguars against the Saints.
Lawrence demonstrated his readiness during pregame warmups at the Caesars Superdome. He appeared in good spirits, showing no signs of discomfort. Moreover, he was not included in the Jaguars’ inactives list for the game, reaffirming his return.
Coach Doug Pederson spoke about Lawrence’s condition before the game, stating, “Trevor Lawrence will start tonight.” He further described how Lawrence completed a 20-minute pregame workout, displaying excellent lateral movement, making cuts, and throwing on the run. His demeanor conveyed confidence as he exchanged pleasantries with trainers and quarterbacks coach Mike McCoy before heading back to the locker room.
Lawrence’s injury occurred in the fourth quarter of their previous game against the Indianapolis Colts. He was sacked awkwardly and appeared to twist his knee. Fortunately, the injury was diagnosed as a knee sprain, which was not considered major. However, the Jaguars had a short week to prepare for their game against the Saints, making Lawrence’s recovery timeline crucial.
Despite practicing on a limited basis on Tuesday and Wednesday, Lawrence was listed as questionable on the injury report. During practice, he wore a knee brace, but his positive outlook was evident. On Tuesday, he expressed his determination to be back on the field, saying, “I’m going to do everything I can to be out there. I feel a lot better today than I would’ve thought.”
Trevor Lawrence, in his third NFL season, has already thrown for 1,439 yards and seven touchdowns, leading the Jaguars to a commendable 4-2 start. In Yahoo’s fantasy QB rankings for the week, he is ranked 13th.
The Jaguars faced a challenging decision. Lawrence, the former first-overall pick, has established himself as a top-tier NFL quarterback and has never missed a game since being drafted. Yet, the team had to weigh the importance of playing Lawrence versus his long-term health, especially after winning three consecutive games to claim the top spot in the AFC South.
Ultimately, Coach Pederson’s decision to start Lawrence on Thursday night signals his confidence in the quarterback’s readiness. Whether this return leads to a fourth consecutive victory remains to be seen, but it’s undoubtedly a significant development for the Jaguars and their fans.