While Trevor Lawrence obviously has a grasp on the starting quarterback job for the Jacksonville Jaguars, the backup spot has been one to watch so far in the preseason for Jaguars fans.
When the team signed C.J. Beathard to a contract extension in the offseason, it was assumed the former 49ers quarterback would easily win the job, as he had starting experience in San Francisco, and the other QB is a CFL signee. However, Nathan Rourke has certainly made it a conversation worth having with his play in the preseason.
Even with Rourke’s strong showing, Jaguars coach Doug Pederson strongly stated that the backup quarterback job is not up for grabs. According to USA Today’s Jaguars Wire, when asked if there was a battle for the No. 2 quarterback position, Pederson had a simple answer in response.
“No.”
“I thought Nathan did well again today,” Pederson said following the Jaguars’ 25-7 preseason win over the Detroit Lions on Saturday. “A couple touchdown drives there and he’s done a nice job. He’s done exactly what we ask him to do. C.J. is our No. 2 and, obviously, Trevor is our No. 1.”
Through the first two weeks of the preseason, Rourke is 19-of-29 for 274 yards with one touchdown, while Beathard is 18-of-33 for 218 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
While the team’s quarterback depth chart is seemingly set, that doesn’t mean Rourke won’t continue to push Beathard as the season goes on. It remains to be seen what the Jaguars’ quarterback depth chart behind Lawrence will look like throughout the regular season.
About Sam Neumann
Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.