Jaguars vs. Buccaneers: C.J. Beathard Confident if He Has To Step In for Trevor Lawrence

The life of a backup quarterback means always being ready. Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback C.J. Beathard knows that as well as anyone. 

"A lot of practice at it, I think. Whether it’s here or where I used to be, I think the mindset of being in my seventh year in the league, I’ve had a lot of experience," Beathard said on Wednesday. 

"Even in games where the starter isn’t banged up or whatever, just preparing like you might have to go into the game. That’s just what you have to do. At this point, it’s really just a mindset and I feel like this year I’ve actually gotten to practice a lot more in years past as far as with the starters when Trevor [Lawrence] missed a couple of practices here and there. It’s only benefitted me and helped me in the long run of just getting reps with certain guys and that kind of stuff.”

Beathard is in his third season with the Jaguars and has had to replace an injured Lawrence in the middle of a game on a handful of occasions. But with Lawrence in concussion protocol this week, there is a very real chance Beathard makes his first start for the Jaguars.

The last time Beathard started was 1,081 days ago: a Week 17 start for the San Francisco 49ers in 2021. In a 26-23 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Beathard completed 67.57% of his passes for 273 yards and a touchdown.

“Yeah, I think it helps just knowing the last several times I’ve been out there, it did go well. It was kind of crazy to think that was back in 2020, so it’s still three years ago. It doesn’t feel like three years because you base it off of playing time. It doesn’t feel like that was three years ago," Beathard said. 

"I’ve learned a lot over the three years since then and it’s helped me. Hopefully, I’d like to think I’ve gained a lot of experience from the sidelines and practice and everything, even since then. Again, I know each game and each situation presents its’ own set of circumstances, whatever that may be.”

If Beathard does start on Sunday, the Jaguars will become the 19th different team this season to start multiple players at quarterback. To this point, Lawrence has fought through knee, toe and ankle injuries over the last two seasons to keep his starting streak. This week, though, it is firmly in danger of being broken.

“Yeah, you see a lot of backups around the league and there’s been a lot of them that have played this year, I’d say more than most years. I think I’ve learned from experience, you can’t get overexcited, you just got to stay even keeled through it all," Beathard said on Wednesday. 

"You truly don’t know what’s going to happen. Then, like Cincinnati a couple of weeks ago, you’re in one phase of the game, then all the sudden by the flip of a switch you have to totally change your mindset and you’re in there. You just prepare in the same way, you’re not getting overexcited, you’re just trying to do the best you can to help us win the next game. Whether it’s today in practice, tomorrow in practice or being out there on Sunday, whatever that is, I know practicing today will help us win on Sunday even if it’s not me in there playing. But to some extent, it’s going to help us get a victory on Sunday. I take pride in that for sure.”