Jaguars To Start Trevor Lawrence In Week 1

Despite being placed in an unexpected competition for the Jaguars’ starting quarterback job, Trevor Lawrence prevailed and will start in Week 1. Urban Meyer announced Wednesday the No. 1 overall pick will start over Gardner Minshew.

Meyer has consistently praised Minshew this summer and refused to install the No. 1 overall pick as his official starter for several weeks during training camp, but the Jags had started Lawrence in both preseason games. He will take the field with Jacksonville’s first-string offense in the team’s final preseason tilt and do so against Houston next month. Meyer informed passing-game coordinator Brian Schottenheimer of his decision Wednesday morning.

The Jags lost 15 straight games last season and obtained the No. 1 pick. Mark Brunell‘s contributions notwithstanding, Lawrence is easily the highest-profile quarterback in franchise history. The 6-foot-6 rookie took over Clemson’s starting job early in his true-freshman season three years ago, supplanting incumbent Kelly Bryant, and led the Tigers to the 2018 national championship. Lawrence had been essentially penciled in as the 2021 No. 1 pick since that point, making this Jaguars quarterback competition slightly unusual.

Minshew and C.J. Beathard reside on Jacksonville’s roster, giving the team some experience behind the rookie first-stringer. Although Minshew ranked 27th in Total QBR last season, he does have a career 37-11 touchdown pass-to-interception ratio. It will be interesting to see how the Jags proceed with Minshew, who has two seasons left on his rookie contract. The former sixth-round pick came up in trade rumors earlier this year, but Meyer was quick to shoot those down.

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