Story by
Mac Jones is inspired by Baker Mayfield as backup QB competition heats up for the Jaguars
- Story by
- Mac Jones is inspired by Baker Mayfield as backup QB competition heats up for the Jaguars
After two days with a heavy dosage of reps against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence won't play this weekend in the second preseason game.
Head coach Doug Pederson said the plan is to play backups Mac Jones and C.J. Beathard a half each as the competition to win Jacksonville's No. 2 quarterback role heats up.
Advertisement
"Both those guys have really embraced the challenge," Pederson said on Thursday. "We've been upfront with both of them and explained exactly how camp was going to go and really both of them I think are within three or four reps of having a 50-50 split right down the middle."
Jones and Beathard have split reps throughout the preseason, being allowed an equal chance at winning the reserve job behind Lawrence.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback C.J. Beathard (3) passes the ball next to quarterback Mac Jones (10) during the ninth day of an NFL football training camp practice Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. Today marked the first day of public practice inside the stadium.
Jacksonville Jaguars camp report: Trust between Trevor Lawrence, Brian Thomas keeps building
Saturday's game will provide an even clearer picture at which of the two quarterbacks will take a lead as they go into the final stretch of training camp.
Advertisement
"I've competed my whole life. And I find great joy in competition," Jones said after practice on Thursday. He's the newcomer to the room, joining the Jaguars after being traded to his hometown this offseason and is looking for a reset on his career.
"I don't try to make a bigger deal than what it is," Beathard said. "I think every day you're just trying to do your best and put your best foot forward."
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) looks on as quarterback Mac Jones (10) passes next to quarterback C.J. Beathard (3) during a combined NFL football training camp session between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium’s Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Beathard is the incumbent, sharing a quarterback room with Lawrence for the last four seasons. He's been in Doug Pederson's system for the last three years and led Jacksonville to a win last December when Lawrence was out with injury.
Advertisement
Beathard, entering his eighth season in the NFL, is also the more senior of the players. He sees this situation as no different than others he's seen in his career.
"There's no bad blood. It's, like, I'm boys with Mac, I'm boys with Trevor. We get along really well together," he said. "We laugh a lot together. It would be a lot harder if it was a tough situation as far as personality-wise, but Mac is a great dude."
Jones has allowed his personality to shine throughout the offseason. He's danced on the field and pretends to be a defensive back while mockingly guarding receivers. Being back home has been good for him.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) walks on the field during a combined NFL football training camp session between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium’s Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
And he's hoping he can have the same sort of career revitalization as a quarterback he stood across from the last two days: Baker Mayfield .
Advertisement
When Jones looks at Mayfield, he sees inspiration. A former first-round pick who never fully caught on with the team that drafted him. Now, Mayfield is entering his second season with a team that he led to the postseason.
But the bumps and bruises along the way is where Jones can appreciate Mayfield's resiliency and hope he has the same type of story one day.
"Baker's journey is something that's inspiring for me and a lot of quarterbacks," Jones said. "It's not going to be perfect from the start to the finish. You might go up and down and then he kind of found his little home. Hopefully that can be inspiration for me and many others."
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16), left, talks with Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during a combined NFL football training camp session between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024 at EverBank Stadium’s Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Jones said he's talked with Mayfield in the past and said maybe he will some more. But he's inspired by his and other journeys by players at one of the most difficult positions in the sport.
Advertisement
"I just enjoy watching quarterbacks' journeys and everyone's is different. I can definitely find motivation from that one," he said. "But he's a great quarterback. He's fighting back and has done a good job of that. And I think a lot of people can take note."
Juston Lewis is a Jacksonville Jaguars beat reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on the website formerly known as Twitter at @JustonLewis_ .
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars' Mac Jones is inspired by Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield's journey
