Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence active for TNF vs. Saints despite knee injury

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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is active for his team’s “Thursday Night Football” matchup against the New Orleans Saints after initially being listed as questionable. Here’s what you need to know:

Lawrence was limited in Tuesday and Wednesday’s practices with a knee injury he suffered in Sunday’s win against the Indianapolis Colts.
The No. 1 pick in the 2021 draft hasn’t missed a game in his NFL career.
Lawrence has completed a career-high 67.1 percent of his passes this season and has thrown for 1,439 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions.

Who plays if Lawrence needs to leave the game?

CJ Beathard would come in. The sixth-year veteran is in his third season with Jacksonville, so he knows the system well. However, there’s a drop-off from Lawrence to Beathard.

The former Iowa standout and third-round draft pick started 12 games for the 49ers from 2017 to 2020, going 2-10 while completing 58 percent of his passes for 3,469 yards and 18 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. — Mike Jones, national NFL writer

Backstory

Lawrence appeared to suffer an injury in the fourth quarter of his team’s 37-20 win against the Colts when he was sacked for a loss of 17 yards by Samson Ebukam. Beathard checked in for Lawrence on the Jaguars’ following drive but, with a large lead, only knelt the ball three times.

Required reading

(Photo: Don Juan Moore / Getty Images)