Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence comes up short in 2nd half with season opener on the line

Updated Sep. 9, 2024 5:50 p.m. ET

Associated Press

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Trevor Lawrence has no excuses for his season-opening performance.

Unlike many other NFL starting quarterbacks, Lawrence played plenty in the preseason. And he looked sharp along the way, leading the Jacksonville Jaguars to three touchdowns in four exhibition drives.

He was supposedly ready. It didn't show against Miami.

Lawrence completed 12 of 21 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown in a 20-17 loss at the Dolphins on Sunday. His dozen completions were the second fewest in his professional career, and he was particularly pedestrian in the second half.

Lawrence was 3 for 7 passing for 37 yards in the final two quarters as the Jaguars failed to score and squandered a 10-point lead at the break. They came up short on all five third down conversion attempts.

“Our lack of execution offensively, it wasn’t just one person,” coach Doug Pederson said. “It really comes down to our third down conversions in this football game and not staying on the field."

The game turned on running back Travis Etienne’s fumble near the goal line late in the third quarter. Instead of extending their lead to 24-7, the Jaguars got burned by Tyreek Hill for an 80-yard score on the ensuing play and found themselves in a three-point game and with no momentum.

That’s when Lawrence was supposed to step up, take over or be the difference-maker. After all, he signed a five-year, $275 million contract extension in June that included $142 million guaranteed.

Instead, Lawrence sailed a pass over Christian Kirk’s head on one third down and was sacked on consecutive plays the following drive. The first sack was a head-scratcher because Lawrence had receivers open on second-and-10 and held the ball too long.

“I don’t have all the answers right now,” Lawrence said. “But I definitely know that we had our opportunities, and we really just didn’t take advantage of them.”

What’s working

Jacksonville’s run defense was a bright spot. The Jaguars allowed 81 yards on 25 carries, with 20 of those yards coming on consecutive runs by fresh-legged backup Jeff Wilson in the fourth.

The return of defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton, the progression of third-year pro Travon Walker and the addition of veteran Arik Armstead appears to have made the Jaguars even more stout up front alongside Pro Bowler Josh Hines-Allen.

Jacksonville ranked ninth in the league against the run in 2023.

What needs help

General manager Trent Baalke spent considerable resources in hopes of improving the offense’s short-yardage woes from last season. He signed two offensive linemen in free agency and was counting on 2023 third-round pick Tank Bigsby to make a jump in Year 2.

But the Jaguars showed marginal improvement against the Dolphins.

The most glaring shortcomings came on consecutive plays spanning the third and fourth quarters. Right guard Brandon Scherff got bend backward as Bigsby was stopped for no gain on third-and-1 from their 32. And then coming out of a TV timeout, Pederson and offensive coordinator Press Taylor strangely dialed up an outside run on fourth down.

Left tackle Cam Robinson whiffed on his block, and Etienne ended up losing 2 yards.

Stock up

Bigsby ran for 73 yards on 12 carries — both career highs — and nearly broke what would have been a 97-yard scamper in the third. It was the kind of performance the Jaguars expected when they drafted him out of Auburn last year.

But the rookie fumbled twice in his first 24 touches and tipped a pass that resulted in an interception in the 2023 season opener. Coaches seemingly lost faith from there, and Bigsby had to earn it back.

Stock down

Right tackle Anton Harrison, a second-year pro who was stout as a rookie, struggled mightily against the Dolphins. He allowed two sacks, was penalized once and ended up being the team's lowest-graded lineman, according to Pro Football Focus.

It was one of the more surprising developments from the season opener. Harrison is considered the team’s starting left tackle beginning in 2025.

Injuries

CB Tyson Campbell, who was sidelined six games last season, will “miss some time” after injuring his left hamstring in the fourth quarter, Pederson said. Pederson added that Campbell will be week to week.

Key number

6 — number of losses to former Houston QB Deshaun Watson, who will start for Cleveland on Sunday. Watson went 6-0 as a starter against Jacksonville during his time in Houston.