Lawrence rides out bumpy rookie season

Although their No. 1 overall selection in the draft has not immediately translated to victories, the Jaguars are happy with rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

“He’s growing up,” coach Urban Meyer told the Jacksonville media. “He’s already a tough guy. We got the right quarterback.”

Lawrence, who starred at Cartersville High and Clemson, has completed only 58.4% of his passes and has passed for more than 300 yards just twice this season. He has nine touchdown passes to eight interceptions. His next outing comes when the Falcons (4-6) face the Jaguars (2-8) at 1 p.m. today.

Meyer has pointed to his supporting cast that needs to improve and be upgraded in the future. In the meantime, Meyer doesn’t want Lawrence to get despondent. “I remind him that they’re all professionals,” Meyer said. “We are all professionals. We’ve got a job to do, go out and do it.”

With the Jaguars’ rushing attack stalled by a knee/ heel injury to James Robinson, the Jaguars are putting in more of the run-pass-option plays that Lawrence ran at Clemson.

“Those conversations have been had,” Meyer said. “Do what he does well. Those are conversations that we are having.”

Developing a rookie NFL quarterback is risky. Peyton Manning went 3-13 as a rookie and led the league with 28 interceptions in 1998 with the Colts. Matt Ryan, with a 2,000-yard rushing attack (Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood), led the Falcons to an 11-5 record and a wild-card playoff berth in 2008.

Meyer believes Lawrence’s growth has stalled. “There is a fine line, too,” Meyer said. “Preparing a quarterback for a long career and then also with keeping him out of harm’s way, those are conversations that we have daily.”

AP 2021 The Jaguars are still happy with quarterback Trevor Lawrence despite his rocky start this season.