Doug Pederson Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Jaguars HC Doug Pederson says no rest for starters in Week 17

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 12/28/22

There is no rest for the wicked, and that goes double for the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to Doug Pederson.

The Jags' head coach told the media this week that he has no plans to rest any of his starters heading into Week 17 against the Houston Texans -- even though the 2022 Texans are, well, the 2022 Texans.

"There is never a meaningless game," Pederson said, via CBS Sports. "Never, ever, ever, ever. We play to win every game and the only way I rest players is if they're hurt and can't go."

"There is never a meaningless game. Never, ever, ever." -- Doug Pederson.

Says he will only ever rest players if they are injured. So Jaguars not resting guys for Week 18. pic.twitter.com/muuIgy5itp
— John Shipley (@_John_Shipley) December 28, 2022

To be fair, it wasn't completely out of left field to think some of Jacksonville's starters might get a breather. The Jaguars have gotten hot and won four out of their last five games, and their Week 18 matchup against the free-falling Tennessee Titans will determine which team wins the AFC South.

That game certainly looms large compared to this week's tilt against a Houston squad that only has two wins on the season.

Nevertheless, Pederson isn't going to let Trevor Lawrence and Company get rusty -- or underestimate Lovie Smith's team.

The Texans, for the record, got their second win of the season in Week 16 against -- you guessed it -- the Titans. Tennessee, which has dealt with a slew of injuries, has now lost five straight and will face the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17.

Kickoff for Texans vs. Jaguars is set for 1p.m. ET on New Year's day.

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