JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars may be without their starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence due to an injury affecting his non-throwing shoulder, as indicated by head coach Doug Pederson on Friday.

As a result, backup Mac Jones is poised to take the lead against the Minnesota Vikings (6-2) this coming Sunday. This marks Jones’s first start in nearly a year, the last of which was with the New England Patriots.

During a second-and-9 play in the second quarter of last Sunday’s game against Philadelphia, Lawrence took a hard hit while scrambling. Instead of opting to slide, he went for a head-first dive and was met with a tackle from linebacker Zack Baun.

In preparation for the possibility that Lawrence won’t be able to play, the Jaguars (2-7) recently signed veteran backup C.J. Beathard from the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad.

Throughout the week, Lawrence has participated in practice with limitations, and he is expected to be listed as questionable during the game-status report released later on Friday.

Considered the top pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, Lawrence experienced his first missed game due to a sprained right shoulder in Week 16 of the current season. He also faced several other injuries that impacted his practice time, including a sprained left knee in Week 6, a sprained right ankle in Week 13, and a concussion in Week 15.

Pederson has noted that from last year’s experience, it’s crucial for Lawrence to practice during the week in order to perform effectively in games. “If you’re not getting the reps during the week, it’s just hard to go,” Pederson explained. “It’s true for all players, but the quarterback position is especially unique.”

These injuries are part of what contributed to one of the franchise’s most significant late-season collapses, where the Jaguars lost five of their last six games and ultimately fell short of the playoffs, despite having spent three months at the top of the AFC South.

Despite these setbacks, the Jaguars secured a five-year, $275 million contract extension for Lawrence in June, positioning him among the highest-paid quarterbacks in league history. However, he has now faced a tough road, losing 12 of his last 14 starts.