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Who is Jacksonville's backup QB? 11 things to know about C.J. Beathard
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- Who is Jacksonville's backup QB? 11 things to know about C.J. Beathard
Trevor Lawrence has finally had one injury too many. Now C.J. Beathard will be the quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars in a crucial Week 17 game against the Carolina Panthers .
Lawrence will miss a game for the first time in his NFL career after he sprained his shoulder in a 30-12 loss December 24 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . The franchise quarterback was shoved out of bounds in the second half with the Jags trailing by 30 points.
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It was the latest in a string of injuries for Lawrence amid Jacksonville's four-game losing streak. He sprained his knee against the Indianapolis Colts on October 15. On December 4, he suffered a high ankle sprain when offensive tackle Walker Little stepped on his foot against the Cincinnati Bengals . Then he entered the concussion protocol after playing the Baltimore Ravens on December 17.
The shoulder injury was finally too much for Lawrence. That means it's up to Beathard, the former Iowa quarterback who started his NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers , to stop the Jaguars' recent slide and maintain its lead in the AFC South with two weeks to go.
Here's what fans should know about the QB, from his football past to his famous family.
What does C.J. stand for in C.J. Beathard ?
C.J. Beathard's given name is Casey Jarrett Beathard. He is named after his father, country music songwriter Casey Beathard .
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What are C.J. Beathard's career stats?
Aug 19, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback C.J. Beathard (3) throws a pass against the Detroit Lions in the second quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports
After going 9 of 10 for 63 yards filling in for an injured Trevor Lawrence on Dec. 4, C.J. Beathard has appeared in 30 games since his rookie season in 2017. He is 312 of 524 (59.5 completion percentage) for 3,614 yards and 18 touchdowns against 14 interceptions. He's also run 60 times for 236 yards and four touchdowns.
Where did C.J. Beathard play high school football?
C.J. Beathard went to Battle Ground Academy near Nashville, where he led all high school quarterbacks in Tennessee in passing yards, completions and touchdowns in his junior and senior seasons. He threw for 2,148 yards and 23 touchdowns in his senior season.
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C.J. Beathard was a star quarterback at Iowa. Yes, you read that right.
Iowa wasn't always an offensive vacuum. With C.J. Beathard starting at quarterback from 2013 to 2016, the Hawkeyes had a 21-7 record when he was starting. He once had a streak of 155 passes in a row without an interception, and he led Iowa to a 12-0 regular-season record in 2015 when he threw for 2,570 yards, 14 TDs and three interceptions. He was named second-team All-Big Ten by the conference coaches and media.
It helped that he had future NFL tight ends George Kittle and Noah Fant to catch his passes.
C.J. Beathard was drafted by San Francisco 49ers, where he'd be reunited with George Kittle
C.J. Beathard was drafted in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. He backed up Jimmy Garoppolo and was on the roster for the team that lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl after the 2019 season.
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After the 2020 season, Beathard was signed by the Jaguars to a two-year, $5 million contract. Gardner Minshew was traded after the final preseason game, leaving Beathard as the primary backup to Trevor Lawrence.
Is C.J. Beathard related to Bobby Beathard and Pete Beathard?
C.J. Beathard is part of a football legacy family. His grandfather is Pro Football Hall of Famer Bobby Beathard . He was the general manager or director of player personnel for four Super Bowl winning teams: the Miami Dolphins in 1972 and 1973 and the team now known as the Washington Commanders in 1983 and 1988.
Bobby Beathard was a part of the front office for NFL/AFL teams for 33 years: the Kansas City Chiefs (1966-67), Atlanta Falcons (1968-71), Dolphins (1972-77), Washington (1978-88) and San Diego Chargers (1990-99). His teams reached seven Super Bowls.
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Bobby Beathard died January 30, 2023 at 86 years old.
Bobby Beathard's younger brother, Pete Beathard, was a quarterback in the 1960s and '70s. He was named MVP of the 1963 Rose Bowl after four of his eight completions went for touchdowns in Southern California's win over Wisconsin. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1964, playing 10 seasons in the AFL and NFL.
Is C.J. Beathard related to Casey Beathard? What to know about his father and Tucker Beathard
C.J. Beathard also has family in Nashville's country music scene. His father, Casey Beathard, was a quarterback at Elon University in North Carolina. After his playing days, he transitioned to music and became a renowned songwriter in country music.
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Casey Beathard has achieved 24 top-ten singles (six No. 1s between 2002-2010) in his three-decade songwriting career. He was inducted with Keith Urban into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in October 2023.
C.J.'s brother, Tucker Beathard , is also a country music singer and songwriter.
Was C.J. Beathard's brother killed? What happened to Clay Beathard?
C.J. Beathard's younger brother, Clay, played quarterback for Long Island University. Clay Beathard and another man were stabbed to death outside a Nashville bar in 2019. A third man lost sight in one of his eyes after he was stabbed.
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A man was convicted of first-degree murder in the killings in March 2022.
"Clay is the sweetest, most humble, toughest, and kind hearted people this world had in it, but he was called home and now has none of the pains and stresses only this world could give," C.J. posted to Instagram after Clay's death.
C.J.'s brother Tucker Beathard, a country music artist, dedicated his album "King" to Clay in 2020.
From 2019: Beathard family issues statement on death of Clayton Beathard in double fatal stabbing
Is C.J. Beathard married?
C.J. Beathard is not married, but he is engaged to Madelyn Chupka . The two met in college at Iowa.
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Beathard and Chupka have a 6-year-old daughter, Lyla.
What number is C.J. Beathard?
C.J. Beathard wears number 3 for the Jaguars. He also wore 3 for the 49ers, and he was number 16 in college with the Iowa Hawkeyes.
How much does C.J. Beathard make?
Beathard is making $2.18 million this season, with a base pay of $1.08 million and signing and roster bonuses totaling $900,000. The Jaguars extended his contract another two years in February.
Florida Times-Union reporters Garry Smits and Juston Lewis and The Nashville Tennessean reporters Marcus K. Dowling, Mike Organ and Mariah Timms contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Who is C.J. Beathard? Here's what to know about Jaguars quarterback
