JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars’ quarterback Trevor Lawrence will not participate in the upcoming game, marking only the second game he has missed in his NFL career. This decision comes as a result of an injury to his non-throwing shoulder, as reported by a source familiar with the situation who requested anonymity due to the Jaguars not intending to officially announce Lawrence’s status until shortly before their game against Minnesota. Until now, Lawrence had been categorized as questionable to play.

Mac Jones, who was drafted 15th overall by the New England Patriots in 2021, will step in as the starting quarterback for the Jaguars, marking his first start since last year. In 2023, Jones struggled, losing seven out of his last eight starts for the Patriots before he was benched. He was traded to the Jaguars in a deal that included a sixth-round pick this past March. This game will be particularly significant for him, as it will be his first time playing in his hometown since his high school days. C.J. Beathard, who recently joined the team from the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad, will be available as the backup quarterback.

Lawrence sustained the shoulder injury during a second-and-9 play while scrambling at Philadelphia last Sunday. Instead of opting to slide, he took a head-first dive, which resulted in a heavy hit from linebacker Zack Baun.

As the top pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, this season marked a significant milestone for Lawrence, as it was the first time he missed a game in his professional career. He previously dealt with a sprained right shoulder in Week 16, along with other injuries that caused him to miss practice time, including a sprained left knee in Week 6, a sprained right ankle in Week 13, and a concussion in Week 15.

Head coach Doug Pederson emphasized in remarks from Friday that the team learned the importance of ensuring Lawrence gets sufficient practice time throughout the week in order for him to perform optimally during games.

In June, the Jaguars signed Lawrence to a lucrative five-year contract extension worth $275 million, making him one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in NFL history.