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Jaguars Sign Veteran Backup Quarterback Off Giants’ As Decided To Join Practice Squad
The Jacksonville Jaguars have added another veteran to their quarterback room, signing 11th-year quarterback Matt Barkley off of the New York Giants’ practice squad. Barkley will join Trevor Lawrence, C.J. Beathard and practice squad quarterback E.J. Perry on the roster. Barkley could offer insurance for the Jaguars in Week 17 if Lawrence can’t play. Lawrence sustained an AC Sprain on his throwing shoulder in the Jaguars’ 30-12 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Barkley was originally drafted in the fourth round (98th overall) by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2013 NFL Draft. He has appeared in 19 games, starting six with Chicago and one with Buffalo since entering the league. Over the last 10 seasons, Barkley has spent time in Philadelphia, Arizona, Chicago, San Francisco, Cincinnati, Buffalo, Tennessee, Carolina, Atlanta and the New York Giants. In his career, he has completed 212-of-363 passes for 2,699 yards and 11 touchdowns. “Trevor is progressing, obviously. He is a little bit sore, but doing better today than he did yesterday, and, you know, we will see where he is at again tomorrow,” Pederson said on Tuesday. “It is a little bit early to tell. May do a little something tomorrow, but I would doubt that tomorrow. Just because it’s a little bit too soon, but we will see it as the week goes on,” Pederson said.
Lawrence was replaced by Beathard in the final quarter, though Lawrence finished the drive he was injured on with a touchdown pass to wide receiver Calvin Ridley. Lawrence ultimately injured his shoulder when diving out of bounds and landing on it near the end of the third quarter. Lawrence finished the game 17-of-29 for 211 yards and a touchdown, also throwing two interceptions and losing one fumble. To this point in his career, Lawrence has never missed a start, becoming one of just three quarterbacks this week to start every single game since Week 1 of the 2021 season. This is the fourth injury Lawrence has sustained this year, following a knee injury in Week 6, an ankle sprain in Week 13, a concussion in Week 15, and now the shoulder injury.
“We know this game is a physical and it is a tough, violent sport, and injuries are going to happen and especially to the quarterback position. All of the injuries that he has sustained are all hits, all contact stuff, and it is part of it,” Pederson said. “And that is his style and that is his aggressiveness, and he has been fortunate enough to bounce back from all of them. So we will see as he goes this week where he is at, but we have been fortunate that he has been able to be available every week so far.”
