Urban Meyer unsure how much Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence will play

The Jacksonville Jaguars staff is still unsure how much rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence will play this preseason, according to head coach Urban Meyer. The first-year head coach says he will lean on his offensive staff throughout the process as snaps are split between returning starter Gardner Minshew and the No. 1 overall pick out of Clemson. New Jaguars offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and passing game coordinator Brian Schottenheimer have a combined 42 years of NFL coaching experience.

“There’s a reason why I hired Bevell and Schottenheimer; they’re veteran quarterback coaches at this level,” Meyer said Wednesday. “[They’re] also veteran quarterback coaches with [experience coaching] young players [at the position]. So, we have not had that dialogue yet. It’s all about, today was about red zone. That will come at the appropriate time, but I’m going to lean heavily on those guys.”

Trevor Lawrence

Lawrence is going through his first NFL preseason after going No. 1 in the 2021 NFL Draft this spring. He was a three-year starter at Clemson, where he won a national championship as a freshman in 2018.

The 6-foot-6 quarterback was one of the top prospects of all-time after his record setting high school career in Georgia. He made a quick transition in the college game, taking over as the Tigers’ starter midway through his freshman season.

Lawrence played 40 games in his Clemson career. He finished with 10,098 passing yards and 90 touchdowns with just 17 interceptions. His rushing ability surprised many at Clemson, where he finished with 943 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground.

Gardner Minshew

The other option for the Jaguars under center is Minshew, the returning starter and the veteran in the quarterback room as a third-year player. The path of the two quarterbacks could not be much more different.

Minshew is a 6-foot-1 former junior college player who made the jump to East Carolina from Norwest Mississippi Community College. After two seasons in the AAC, he made a move that changed his career trajectory.

The Mississippi native left as a graduate transfer to join coach Mike Leach at Washington State. Minshew finished the 2019 season with 4,779 yards and 38 touchdowns with nine interceptions in his one year, putting him on the radar of NFL scouts.

Minshew was a sixth-round pick by the Jaguars in the 2019 NFL Draft and started 12 games as a rookie. He quickly became a fan favorite for his off-field style and signature handlebar mustache.

With the addition of Lawrence this offseason, Minshew has been the subject of trade rumors around the league. Most recently, an injury to Indianapolis Colts starter Carson Wentz has led to speculation about a potential trade.

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