Published: October 19, 2023, 08:39h.

Last updated: October 19, 2023, 08:39h.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have listed quarterback Trevor Lawrence as questionable on the injury report ahead of their Thursday Night Football game against the New Orleans Saints.

Lawrence is currently day-to-day with a left knee injury and will be a game-time decision in New Orleans. He was spotted wearing a knee brace on Wednesday but was limited in practice.

Lawrence has not missed a game during his short career. He would like to start on Thursday Night Football, but the Jaguars are hesitant to let him play on the artificial turf at the New Orleans Superdome.

“I’m optimistic, but of course we’re gonna have to make that decision Thursday and we’ll go from there,” Lawrence told reporters on Tuesday. “Right now is not the day to do that.”

If Lawrence is unable to play for the Jaguars, C.J. Beathard is currently the backup quarterback. Beathard last started a game in 2020 and had a 2-10 record as a starter with the 49ers. He has been Lawrence’s backup in Jacksonville since 20021.

“T-Law is as tough as they come, and I know he’s doing anything and everything he can to be ready to play,” said Beathard.

Lawrence Tweaks Knee Trying to Seal a Win

Lawrence sustained a knee injury late in the fourth quarter of a 37-20 victory against the Indianapolis Colts. He faked a pitch to running back Travis Etienne and rolled out to the left side. Lawrence instantly grabbed his left knee after being chased down by Colts defensive end Samson Ebukam.

“I just felt some discomfort in my knee, and I went down,” said Lawrence on Sunday. “Don’t know if it was twisted or landed on or what. Felt it right away. I realized I could get up, so I was just trying to get up and get off the field.”

Head coach Doug Pederson faced criticism for the play call. The Jaguars were trying to get a first down via a running play and then let the clock expire. Their running attack was ineffective down the stretch, which is why Lawrence kept the ball.

“Is there a little bit of risk there to run your quarterback? Yes,” acknowledged Pederson. “But at the same time, the reward is you get the first down, stay on the field, and ice the game in those situations.”

Lawrence was initially diagnosed with a left knee bruise. He underwent an MRI on Monday, which revealed a minor sprain, and Lawrence avoided a serious injury.

The Jaguars selected Lawrence with the #1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He has completed 63.5% of his passes and thrown 44 touchdowns and 28 interceptions in 40 career starts.

If you disregard his rookie season, Lawrence threw 32 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions in his last 23 games since Pederson took over as head coach.

Lawrence has a 4-2 record as a starter this season. He has completed 67.1% of his passes for 1,439 yards, seven touchdowns, and three interceptions.

Futures Market on Lawrence and the Jaguars

The Jaguars have won three games in a row and improved to 4-2. The Saints are 3-3 but have the advantage of hosting the Jaguars on a short week for Thursday Night Football. The Saints recently went through a rough stretch in which they played four out of their last five games on the road.

On Sunday evening, the South Point Sportsbook in Las Vegas installed the Saints as a -3 favorite against the Jaguars. The line has shifted throughout the week, with bettors backing the Jaguars despite Lawrence’s day-to-day knee injury. The Saints are currently a -1 favorite.

The Saints are 1-4-1 against the spread (ATS) this season, while the Jaguars are 4-2 ATS, including 3-0 ATS during their current win streak.

Saints quarterback Derek Carr is also dealing with an injury, playing through a painful shoulder injury. The Saints started the season 2-0 but have dropped three out of their last four games.

The Jaguars are the betting favorite to win the AFC South with -130 odds. They are ahead of the Houston Texans (3-3) at +280 odds, the Tennessee Titans (3-3) at +650 odds, and the Indianapolis Colts (2-4) at +650 odds. The Colts lost rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson to a shoulder injury, and he will miss the rest of the season due to surgery.

The Jaguars are currently -230 odds to make the playoffs in consecutive seasons. According to a prop bet by DraftKings, they are +150 odds to miss the postseason.

The Jaguars have +2500 odds to win Super Bowl LVIII, ranking ninth overall on the futures board.

They have +1400 odds to win the AFC Championship, placing them fifth on the board behind the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, and Baltimore Ravens.

In a tight NFL MVP race, Lawrence is ranked eighth on the awards board with +2000 odds.