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Doug Pederson not committing to Trevor Lawrence as Jaguars spiral downward
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Doug Pederson not committing to Trevor Lawrence as Jaguars spiral downward

Doug Pederson’s desperate search for answers after the Jaguars’ disappointing 0-3 start could result in a stunning quarterback change.

Jacksonville head coach did not rule out benching Trevor Lawrence after the team was crushed 47-10 by the Bills on Monday night.

“There’s got to be changes, whether it’s game design, personnel, everything,” Pederson said after the Jaguars’ loss, according to ESPN. “Everything’s on the table, let’s call it that, and those are all things that I have to look at, that we as a staff have to look at and make the adjustments.”

Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) is hit by Bills linebacker Von Miller (40) in the fourth quarter on September 23, 2024. Mark Konezny-Imagn-Images

When asked if he would change his starters, including Lawrence, Pederson replied: “You say everything is on the table, we have to look at injuries. We had a couple guys injured tonight. We could go that way. It could be performance. It’s all things we have to evaluate as we go along.”

It would be devastating if Lawrence were to lose his QB1 job, as the Jaguars recently gave him a five-year, $275 million contract extension, after $200 million was already guaranteed three months ago.

Their backup is Mac Jones, the former Patriots first-round pick acquired in a midseason trade who went 5-for-8 with 22 yards and a dropped fumble in mop-up duty on Monday.

Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones (10) loses a fumble against the Bills on September 23, 2024. Gregory Fisher-Imagn-Images

In three games this season, Lawrence has completed 47 of 89 passes for 560 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

After being the first-round pick in 2021 and enduring the Urban Meyer mess that year, Lawrence led the Jaguars to the 2022 playoffs in Pederson’s first year at the helm. They staged a wild comeback by defeating the Chargers in the wild-card round, only to fall to the Chiefs in the divisional round.

The Jaguars started last year with an 8-3 record, but then slumped and finished with the same 9-8 record as the year before.

Jaguars coach Doug Pederson reacts during a call with reporters following the team’s loss to the Bills on September 23, 2024. AP

The answers won’t be easy, as the offense has been unproductive and the defense has scored 34 points in the first half Monday.

“That’s the NFL: The quarterback has to play well every week to have a chance to win, and I feel like I haven’t done that consistently enough, so I put that on myself and I’ve got to play better,” Lawrence said.

Seven years after leading the Eagles to the Super Bowl, Pederson may be feeling the pressure in Jacksonville.

“This is who we are now and it’s not very good,” he said. “We have to be honest with ourselves and I have to be honest with myself and just keep going.