When Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell say that rookie and first-round draft pick Trevor Lawrence isn’t a certainty to be the team’s starting quarterback over Gardner Minshew when the Jaguars open the regular season against the Houston Texans on Sept. 1, practically no one believes them.
Meyer told reporters on Friday that he’s still talking about the depth chart with Bevell and passing-game coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, and that he thinks he knows when he’ll make his final decision for Week 1.
Meyer told ESPN’s Michael DiRocco, “I do [have a timeline] in my head, but it’s a daily dialogue that the three individuals are having.”
“It could [continue until the last preseason game], but I’d rather not.”
To prevent injury concerns, coaches throughout the NFL are expected to bench their starters that weekend.
Meyer said he’ll select which of his two best quarterbacks will start Monday’s exhibition game against the New Orleans Saints on Saturday.
Meyer appears to be seeking to boost Minshew’s trade market value through a competition that few are taking seriously.
Nevertheless, given that this is the same coach who felt giving Tim Tebow reps at tight end this summer wasn’t a complete waste of time, everyone should think he’s serious about anointing Minshew as the starting quarterback before Labor Day.
