Jaguars assistant Brian Schottenheimer not ready to name Trevor Lawrence starting QB

When the Jacksonville Jaguars open the regular season on Sept. 12 on the road against the Houston Texans, there's little doubt rookie Trevor Lawrence will be trotting on the field as the team's starting quarterback.

But Jaguars quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said during a call Wednesday the franchise has not named a starter yet, even though NFL scouts praised No. 1 overall pick Lawrence as a generational talent long before the April draft.

''We're not in a position where we are saying one, two, three, and four – we're letting it all roll,'' Schottenheimer said. ''Ultimately, when we name a starter, we'll name a starter. Urban (Meyer) will do that when he's ready.''

Still, it's clear backups Gardner Minshew, C.J. Beathard and Jake Luton don't possess the arm strength nor the accuracy of Lawrence, who led Clemson to a 34-2 record in three seasons as a starter.

Jaguars quarterbacks (3) C.J. Beathard, (16) Trevor Lawrence and (15) Gardner Minshew II during drills at Tuesday's minicamp session. The Jacksonville Jaguars held their Tuesday morning session of the team's mandatory minicamp at the practice fields outside TIAA Bank Field, June 15, 2021. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union] (Photo: Bob Self, Bob Self/Florida Times-Union)

Lawrence was limited throughout the offseason program to avoid having any injury setbacks after undergoing surgery in February for a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder. He was limited to 30 to 40 throws during last month's organized team activity practices. 

During Monday's opening day of mandatory minicamp, Lawrence was held out from participating in 11-on-11 work due to minor hamstring soreness.

However, it is likely to be all but a formality once training camp begins next month that Lawrence will draw the majority of the first-team snaps. 

Just before saying the starting quarterback job remains undecided, Schottenheimer praised Lawrence as a terrific student of the game who learns quickly.

''He loves the mental preparations, getting a feel of how we do things here,'' Schottenheimer said. ''He's just a true pleasure to coach because he loves it. He sits on every word, every phrase and every sound bite that you give him. You see growth from him every day, and as a coach, you get excited about that.''

Lawrence has had moments during the organized team activity workouts and minicamp where he's had some incompletions and interceptions. But he's also made some tight-window throws that have been nothing less than spectacular.

Lawrence was exceptionally sharp during Tuesday's final day of minicamp. He effortlessly made tight-window throws, especially during seven-on-seven work in the red zone.

''Trevor has been a true professional since he’s been here, day one,'' offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said Tuesday. ''He’s worked tirelessly to learn the offense, to learn the verbiage, to learn his teammates, to improve on the field. And whatever the limitations are, we’ve been going with them.''

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