The Jaguars may need to secure victory in the AFC South without their starting quarterback, Trevor Lawrence. Coach Doug Pederson revealed that the decision to start Lawrence against the Tennessee Titans hinges on his ability to throw with more intensity in practice, testing his sprained right AC joint. Pederson emphasized that the determination could extend until just before kickoff, describing the situation as “day to day.” He expressed optimism about Lawrence’s progress, noting that Friday’s practice would be crucial in assessing the quarterback’s readiness.
Regarding other key players, Pederson mentioned that the activation of wide receiver Christian Kirk, who has been recovering from a core muscle injury since December 4, would be decided on Saturday afternoon. Kirk’s 21-day practice window opened Wednesday, with limited participation during the week. Lawrence, Kirk, and wide receiver Zay Jones (who is dealing with knee/hamstring issues) are all listed as questionable for the upcoming game.
Despite Lawrence’s limited practice on Wednesday and Thursday, Pederson affirmed that if medically cleared, Lawrence would play, emphasizing his commitment to protecting himself on the field. The Titans, on the other hand, will start Ryan Tannehill at quarterback after ruling out Will Levis due to a foot injury sustained in the previous week’s loss to the Houston Texans.
The Jaguars, with a 9-7 record, have the opportunity to clinch the AFC South title by defeating the Titans (5-11) in Nashville. A victory would mark back-to-back division titles for the franchise, a feat achieved only once in its history during 1998 and 1999 in the AFC Central. Additionally, there’s a playoff scenario where the Jaguars can advance even with a loss to the Titans, provided Pittsburgh loses to Baltimore, Denver loses to Las Vegas, and the Houston-Indianapolis game does not end in a tie. In the event of a Jaguars loss, the winner of the Texans-Colts matchup would claim the AFC South championship.