Trevor Lawrence to miss 1st NFL start with AC joint sprain

Things keep getting worse for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence won't play Sunday against the Carolina Panthers due to a right shoulder injury, the team announced Friday.

Lawrence didn't practice all week as he deals with an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder. He suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of last week's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. C.J. Beathard will start for Jacksonville against Carolina.

This will be Lawrence's first injury absence since he entered the NFL as the first overall pick in 2021. He battled other ailments earlier this season, including a concussion and knee and ankle injuries.

The Clemson product, who earned his first career Pro Bowl berth and led Jacksonville to the playoffs last season, has completed 65.5% of his passes for 3,736 yards and 19 touchdowns against 12 interceptions through 15 starts in 2023.

The Jaguars are 20-29 across two-plus seasons with Lawrence under center.

Jacksonville had a comfortable lead atop the AFC South and seemed like a lock to make the playoffs midway through the 2023 campaign. However, the team has lost five of its last seven games, including four straight.

The Jaguars are tied with the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans with an 8-7 record, but Jacksonville still leads the division due to its head-to-head tiebreakers.

Beathard - a San Francisco 49ers third-round pick in 2017 - has served as the Jaguars' backup quarterback since 2021. The 30-year-old has attempted 29 passes in 2023, tossing one touchdown.

After hosting the Panthers, Jacksonville will visit the Tennessee Titans in Week 18.