New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97) runs out of the tunnel prior to the start of the game between the New York Giants and the Washington Commanders at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024.

Giants DT Dexter Lawrence placed on IR

New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence was placed on injured reserve Monday with an elbow injury labeled “long term” by head coach Brian Daboll.

Lawrence, a two-time Pro Bowl selection who had a career-high 9.0 sacks and 16 quarterback hits in 2024, is certain not to play in December with NFL rules on IR requiring players to miss four games.

“Obviously, he is our rock in the middle there,” Giants linebacker Micah McFadden said Monday. “Not only on the field, but he’s our captain and our leader off the field. He’s a voice within our locker room and especially on the defensive side of the ball. It’s a big blow to us.”

Lawrence left Thursday’s 27-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in the second half and didn’t return.

The third of five captains at the beginning of the season to be out the picture, Lawrence joins left tackle Andrew Thomas on IR. Quarterback Daniel Jones was released on Nov. 23.

“As a big guy inside he calls for a lot of attention, so that’s a big loss for us,” outside linebacker Brian Burns said. “But, more importantly, I’m worried about his well-being.”

Lawrence said he dislocated his elbow in the third quarter and was one of three Giants defensive linemen injured on Thanksgiving Day against the Cowboys. Daboll said after the loss at Dallas he would have an update on Rakeem Nunez-Roches (stinger) and D.J. Davidson (shoulder) later this week.

The Giants (2-10) also placed tight end Theo Johnson on IR and signed Cory Durden off the Los Angeles Rams’ practice squad on Monday but could have additional roster spots to fill before facing the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

–Field Level Media

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) walks on the sideline during the fourth quarter of an NFL football matchup Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 at Everbank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Vikings defeated the Jaguars 12-7. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence returns from shoulder injury

Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is back after missing two games with a left shoulder injury.

Head coach Doug Pederson confirmed Friday that Lawrence will be the QB1 Sunday when Jacksonville welcomes the Houston Texans. Lawrence cleared tests this week with practice workouts that began Monday following the team’s bye last week.

Lawrence described his physical status as “feeling better” but earlier in the week said surgery remains an option at some point.

The Jaguars (2-9) host the AFC South-leading Texans (7-5) at EverBank Stadium in a rematch of Jacksonville’s Week 4 loss at Houston.

“That’s what I want. I want to be back on the field playing with my teammates and that’s the plan,” Lawrence said Wednesday.

Lawrence, 25, said a shoulder operation is “definitely something I’m considering and not off the table at all.”

“It has been pretty a difficult thing to gauge what’s the best path forward,” he said. “Hopefully, I’m able to get back out there this week or as soon as possible, then it’s going to be just every week kind of evaluating it, seeing where it’s at. Up until this point, I’ve been doing everything I can to avoid that. I want to be back out there with my guys and finish the season. That’s my goal. That’s what I want to do. Beyond that, I don’t know.”

Lawrence was hurt in the Jaguars’ Week 9 loss at Philadelphia. Mac Jones led the offense in his absence.

Jacksonville returned from a bye last week and Lawrence was able to practice on Monday, but said he felt the clear benefit of rest during the downtime.

He has completed 168 of 274 passes for 2,004 yards and 11 touchdowns with six interceptions this season.

–Field Level Media

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) talks with offensive coordinator Press Taylor during practice on Nov. 7 at the Miller Electric Center. Lawrence was limited for a second day in a row because of a left shoulder injury.

Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence pushing to play, not ruling out surgery

Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence stands squarely in the middle of two options for addressing his left shoulder injury.

After missing the past two games, Lawrence described his physical status as “feeling better” following his second practice this week on Wednesday as the Jaguars (2-9) prepared to host the AFC South-leading Houston Texans (7-5) at EverBank Stadium on Sunday.

“I’m hoping I’m back out there this week,” Lawrence said Wednesday. “It would be great. That’s what I want. I want to be back on the field playing with my teammates and that’s the plan.”

Head coach Doug Pederson plainly laid out the other option on the table for Lawrence, who said he’s still very much considering surgical repair of his non-throwing shoulder.

Lawrence, 25, said the operation is “definitely something I’m considering and not off the table at all,” and Pederson said he’s “not going to commit” to Lawrence playing this week.

“It has been pretty a difficult thing to gauge what’s the best path forward,” Lawrence said. “Hopefully, I’m able to get back out there this week or as soon as possible, then it’s going to be just every week kind of evaluating it, seeing where it’s at. Up until this point, I’ve been doing everything I can to avoid that. I want to be back out there with my guys and finish the season. That’s my goal. That’s what I want to do. Beyond that, I don’t know.”

Lawrence was hurt in the Jaguars’ Week 9 loss at Philadelphia. Jacksonville returned from a bye last week and Lawrence was able to practice on Monday, but said he felt the clear benefit of rest during the downtime.

He has completed 168 of 274 passes for 2,004 yards and 11 touchdowns with six interceptions.

–Field Level Media

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) scores a touchdown  past Philadelphia Eagles safety Reed Blankenship (32) during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence limited, Week 10 status unclear

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was limited in Wednesday’s practice and his status for Week 10 against the Minnesota Vikings is unclear.

Head coach Doug Pederson said Lawrence is “sore” with an “upper-body injury,” that is specifically a left shoulder issue according to multiple reports.

The Jaguars (2-7) are at home Sunday to face the Minnesota Vikings (6-2), but Pederson could not promise Lawrence will be on the field.

“Can’t answer that,” he said. “Can’t answer that today, not sitting here Wednesday.”

Backup Mac Jones worked with the first-team offense on Wednesday.

Lawrence has 11 touchdowns and six interceptions this season. His injury came to light on the same day Jacksonville signed C.J. Beathard off of the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad. Beathard was cut by Jacksonville at the end of training camp with an injury settlement. He spent the 2021-23 seasons as the No. 2 quarterback behind Lawrence.

Beathard, 30, has appeared in 32 NFL games since San Francisco selected him in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He has a 3-10 record as a starter with the 49ers and Jaguars (2021-23) and has completed 60.4 percent of his pass attempts for 3,886 yards with 19 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

–Field Level Media

Sep 29, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) walks on the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Streaking again, Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence keeps faith in U-turn

Losing streaks are nothing new to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

The No. 1 pick in 2021, Lawrence lost his first five starts that year and later endured an eight-game skid. Jacksonville went through another five-game slump in 2022 and posted a four-game losing streak last December.

But he didn’t see Jacksonville’s 0-4 start coming in 2024. Lawrence said Wednesday he doesn’t believe the Jaguars’ preparation equates to his personal nine-start losing streak dating to last season.

“Being a rookie and pretty naive, I didn’t understand the situation either. At this point even in ’21, we lost a close one in Cincinnati on Thursday night, lost on a walk-off field goal to Cincinnati that ended up going to the Super Bowl that year,” Lawrence said Wednesday. “We’ve got to go win games. I have a lot of faith in this group.”

The Jaguars are donning throwback jerseys to the 1994 expansion franchise iteration and are home for only the second time in five games this week against the Indianapolis Colts (2-2).

Streaking is part of the path for the Jaguars in recent seasons, but only one NFL team has gone from 0-4 to the playoffs. The 1992 San Diego Chargers, who eventually lost to the 49ers in the Super Bowl.

In 2022, the Jaguars started 2-1, then lost five in a row. But they closed on a five-game winning streak to win the AFC South and reach the postseason and deliver a dramatic comeback (31-30) to knock off the Chargers.

Lawrence said he still believes the Jaguars are close to rattling off a streak in the other direction. But the issues are many.

Outscored 109-60 through Week 4, Jacksonville ranks 25th in the NFL in total offense and 30th in total defense.

Lawrence, sacked 12 times in 2024, is completing just 53.3 percent of his passes.

After leading the Dolphins in Week 1, missing a chance — due to penalty — to take the lead over the Browns in Week 2 and losing a lead again last week at Houston, head coach Doug Pederson is preaching situational execution.

That also applies to Lawrence. He’s completing 38.5 percent of his passes in the fourth quarter (10 of 26) and 46.2 percent in the red zone this season.

It’s the red zone where Jaguars running back Travis Etienne said Jacksonville has allowed wins to turn into losses. He also had a big hand in the current streak, fumbling away a chance to score and sparking the Dolphins’ rally in Week 1.

“I’ve dealt with a few of these in my career unfortunately. It’s never fun. You have to be thick-skinned. You have to be persistent when you’re in a situation like this. Keep your head down and keep working,” Lawrence said. “I’ve been on teams where we’ve come out of it, where we won six straight after we lost five straight. It’s a long season. You just have to keep playing. You can’t sulk in the past either. We’re at where we’re at. … It just takes one.”

–Field Level Media

NFL Washington Commanders defensive end K.J. Henry

Cowboys sign DE K.J. Henry, put DeMarcus Lawrence to IR

The Dallas Cowboys signed K.J. Henry off the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad on Tuesday after placing fellow defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence on injured reserve.

Lawrence sustained a Lisfranc injury to his right foot in the third quarter of last Thursday’s 20-15 road win against the New York Giants. The four-time Pro Bowl selection is not expected to have surgery but will need four to eight weeks to recover.

Lawrence, 32, has three sacks and 14 tackles in 14 starts this season. He has 61.5 sacks, 21 forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries and two interceptions in 141 games (123 starts) since Dallas drafted him in the second round in 2014.

Henry, 25, was a fifth-round pick by Washington in 2023 and recorded 1.5 sacks and 19 tackles in 10 games (three starts) for the Commanders as a rookie.

Waived by Washington on Aug. 27, Henry signed with the Bengals and has played a total of 11 snaps on defense and seven on special teams in two games this season.

In addition to Lawrence’s absence, the Cowboys (2-2) are preparing to play Sunday night at Pittsburgh (3-1) without star pass-rusher Micah Parsons due to a left high-ankle sprain.

–Field Level Media

Sep 26, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA;  Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (11) injured in the second half against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

Cowboys’ Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence headed for MRIs

The Dallas Cowboys were awaiting word on two defensive stalwarts who got injured in their 20-15 win over the New York Giants on Thursday in East Rutherford, N.J.

Linebacker Micah Parsons hurt his left ankle in the fourth quarter. Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence injured his right foot in the third quarter. Both will undergo MRI exams on Friday.

Parsons said postgame that X-rays on his ankle were negative. He added, according to ESPN, “Right now, I just iced it. I know very little. I’ve got an MRI (scheduled for Friday), and I’m going to try to get back next week.”

The Athletic reported that Parsons was limping in the locker room but that he told Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, “I’ll be good.”

Parsons got hurt with 3:30 left as he was being blocked low by guard Greg Van Roten and high by center John Michael Schmitz Jr. Van Roten appeared to come down on the back of Parsons’ foot.

Lawrence said X-rays on his foot were negative, though he also is headed for an MRI exam, as well. He said, according to Yahoo Sports, “I’ll be back in no time.”

Both Parsons and Lawrence had two tackles and Monday, and Lawrence had a sack.

Parsons, 25, was selected a first-team All-Pro in two of his previous three NFL seasons, when he averaged 13.5 sacks per year.

Lawrence, 32, is a four-time Pro Bowl selection. He has 61.5 career sacks in 141 NFL games.

–Field Level Media

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) talks with head coach Doug Pederson during the fourth quarter of an NFL football matchup Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Browns defeated the Jaguars 18-13. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

Jaguars keeping the faith despite troublesome 0-3 start

The Jacksonville Jaguars were humiliated on Monday Night Football, but coach Doug Pederson isn’t ready to wave the white flag.

The Jaguars (0-3) are one of three remaining winless teams as they enter Sunday’s road game against the Houston Texans.

The 47-10 road loss to the Buffalo Bills represented a severe whipping for Jacksonville. But Pederson said nobody is hanging their head.

“I think the confidence is still there,” Pederson said Wednesday. “I think the confidence is high. I do feel that we have to just focus on us internally and keep things nice and tight, eliminate the mistakes that are happening and try to play our best football.”

Jacksonville badly needs a victory against the first-place Texans (2-1) to turn the AFC South into a race. Dropping to 0-4 would not be a good development for the Jaguars’ playoff aspirations.

Still, Pederson has been around long enough to know there is plenty of time for a turnaround.

“It’s not the end of anybody’s season, obviously it’s Week 4,” Pederson said. “We just got to figure out a way to play good football and right now, the tape shows that we’re not and we’ve got to fix that.”

The Jaguars have been outscored 85-40 in their three setbacks and questions are heating up about Pederson’s future and the play of quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

Lawrence, the No. 1 overall pick in 2021, is completing just 52.8 percent of his passes and has been sacked 11 times. The loss to the Bills marked the eighth straight game Jacksonville lost when Lawrence was the starting quarterback.

In the offseason, the Jaguars gave Lawrence a five-year, $275 million extension — the type of deal that goes to an elite quarterback.

Lawrence’s performance hasn’t come close to that level, particularly with Jacksonville’s offense ranking 30th in scoring (13.3 points per game) and 27th in total yardage (276.3).

“I’ve got to play really well for us to win,” Lawrence told reporters. “That’s the NFL. The quarterback has to play well every week in order to give us a shot to win. I don’t feel like I’ve done that consistently enough. So I put that on myself.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 19, 2023; Jacksonville, Florida, USA;  Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) hands off to running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) against the Tennessee Titans in the fourth quarter at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Jags picking up options for Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne

The Jacksonville Jaguars will exercise the fifth-year options for quarterback Trevor Lawrence and running back Travis Etienne.

General manager Trent Baalke confirmed the widely anticipated moves on Saturday for the pair of 2021 first-round draft picks.

Lawrence, the No. 1 overall pick in that draft, will earn a guaranteed $25.7 million in 2025 and his former Clemson teammate Etienne (25th pick) is due $6.1 million on his option.

Lawrence, 24, made the Pro Bowl in 2022 and is 20-30 as a starter, passing for 11,770 yards with 58 touchdowns and 39 interceptions through three seasons. He has rushed for 964 yards and 11 scores.

Etienne, 25, missed his 2021 rookie season with a foot injury but has since posted back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons. He has gained 2,925 yards from scrimmage with 17 TDs in 34 games (29 starts).

–Field Level Media

Jan 7, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA;  Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) throws during pre-game warmups against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports

Jags GM: Trevor Lawrence, Josh Allen not going anywhere

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence and edge rusher Josh Allen will be with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the long term, general manager Trent Baalke said Thursday.

Baalke told reporters that the team is prioritizing both franchise cornerstones — Lawrence with a contract extension and Allen with a new deal.

The No. 1 overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, Lawrence signed a four-year, $36.7 million rookie deal that has one year remaining, plus a fifth-year $10.89 million team option before he could hit free agency in 2026.

Allen, the No. 7 overall selection in 2019, played the 2023 season on his fifth-year option and is eligible for free agency when the new league year begins in March.

Lawrence, 24, had a tough rookie year during Urban Meyer’s chaotic season as head coach, then showed growth under Doug Pederson in 2022, leading the Jaguars to a 9-8 record and a playoff victory. He was selected to the Pro Bowl and threw for 4,113 yards with 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

In 2023, however, end-of-season injuries plagued Lawrence and helped to doom the Jaguars’ playoff chances, and he couldn’t improve on the 2022 numbers.

Baalke said it wasn’t cause for worry, calling 2023 another “learning year,” and that the team will pursue a long-term deal.

“As far as Trevor and the long-term relationship with this team, there’s no doubt in that,” Baalke said. “We are going to get something done (at) the appropriate time.”

A deal with Allen, 26, is a more pressing need. He gained his second Pro Bowl nod in 2024 after racking up 66 tackles, 33 quarterback hits and a franchise-record 17.5 sacks in 17 games.

“Yeah, Josh will be a Jaguar,” Baalke said, adding the two sides have yet to talk money.

“I know Josh wants to be here, and I know we want him here,” Baalke said. “Can we come to a number that works for everybody? That’s the key.

“… You have to respect these guys that put themselves in this position. They work hard, they deserve the good money. … We just have to come together and sit down at the table and work things out.”

If Allen and the Jaguars don’t reach a long-term deal in the next few weeks, they could apply the franchise tag to him.

From Feb. 20 until March 5 at 4 p.m. ET, teams may designate franchise or transition tag players. Franchise tag players may not negotiate with other teams and will earn the average of the top five salaries at the position from the current season.

–Field Level Media