J.P. Shadrick | Jacksonville Jaguars Sr. Reporter

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Visit Carvana.com to start tracking your car's value today. And JB, I think the biggest question, easy place to start. What do we know about the status of Trevor Lawrence for week 18? Well, let's begin Wednesday at practice where he didn't throw any footballs in the open media session. So that's about 20 minutes or so at the start of practice. And the other quarterbacks are going through individual drills and he was going through them too where he would go around these cones and these bags and things and then he wouldn't throw the ball. Well, the other quarterbacks would.

Okay, well that's not a good sign. Well, then Thursday rolls around and okay, he threw a few footballs. He didn't really throw all of them that the other quarterbacks were throwing, but all right, that's at least a little progress.

So that's kind of where we are. I mean, talking to Doug Peterson on Thursday on his radio show that we host, you know, and he was still kind of, you know, we'll see. We'll see how Thursday goes. Let's really check on Friday, but you know, and just hearing Trevor talk on Wednesday, he always talks on Wednesday to the media. You know, he seemed a little more positive about it than he did certainly last week. So I don't know.

I mean, that's a long way to say nobody really knows. We'll see how the week goes and if he can't throw the ball, obviously you just can't play. However, this is a gotta have it game and Trevor being the competitor that he is.

He's going to do everything in his power to be ready and cleared to play and be out there for his team. So, uh, they did manage one last week without him. And again, it was the Carolina Panthers. It wasn't the Ravens coming to town.

So, um, okay. They, they got that done. Can they do it again against Tennessee on the road without him?

Maybe. And then they ran the ball a bunch. So that's kind of the idea. I think no matter who the quarterback is, I think that's the formula this week is run the ball, play good defense, don't turn it over and maybe you can get through it. Well, I'm glad you mentioned turnovers because that seems to be one of the major keys for the Jaguars and they snapped that four games kid against Carolina and were able to not turn the ball over. Whether it's fumbles, whether it's interceptions, what common theme do you see or what happens when they get into those ruts? You know, a lot of it is honestly, it's Trevor Lawrence fumble in the football. I mean, there were instances where he was just dropped the ball and he'd be running free and then, you know, Oh gosh, he just coughed it up for no reason. It's just kind of strange. And earlier this season in London against the bills, there were a couple of sack fumbles where they were kind of on the red zone or on the friends of the red zone going in and, you know, I just didn't protect the ball or try to do a little too much, maybe roll blast when he could just throw it away and, you know, take the field goal instead of gets hit and fumbles it out. And there's some of that going on.

You know, that's really the main thing. And a lot of it does have to do with Trevor. I mean, there was a stretch there where most of the turnovers for him were there exceptions or fumbles and they just can't have that. And, you know, Tom Coughlin, the old jaguar said, coach, obviously called it a callous disregard for the football. Now, I don't know if it's that extreme, that's a little aggressive, but, you know, cause Trevor still trying to do some things well and play above the X's and O's and do some things and just sometimes doesn't work. Now, sometimes it works well. And that's the part you love when he scrambles and does an extra something and gets 15 yards or throws for a touchdown and a window.

And those are, that's the balance, right? And it's still a young quarterback. I mean, the guy's 24. We just turned 24 in October and it's the third year in the league.

So you still have to be a little bit patient. I know not everybody wants to hear that with him, but I think in time he will learn to protect it a little bit better. And, you know, maybe even actually seeing it on the sideline last week during a game for the first time, seeing CJ Beathard manage it and not force it and protect it and get down and do those things. It's the first time he's seen it from the sideline and not having to play.

So, okay, maybe that's opened his eyes just a little bit. Are you surprised the AFC South title is still hanging in the balance in week 18? Yeah. Considering the four game December losing streak for the Jaguars, I mean, who survives that? That is nearly impossible. And the Jaguars were on the other side of this thing last year, of course, when Tennessee had the epic collapse, they were so injured last year and the Jaguars made the run in December and were winning games and come from behind fashion and dramatic fashion. And then just the planets aligned last year. Well, this year, the Jags are trying to avoid that.

So on the other end of it. But, you know, even with the four game skid, they're still in first place and they've controlled the thing the whole way. And if they get out of their own way and quit turning it over and quit with the pre-snap penalties and things like that, then I think they can hang with pretty much anybody in the league, but they've got to hang with themselves first before they worry about that. And, you know, maybe that, you know, last week was a good, that was the cleanest game they played in a long time. I mean, their defense was fantastic. Obviously they shut out. The offense ran the ball. That was the goal going in. They wanted to get 30 runs for the running backs. They got 29 in the game. They had a long touchdown run and that was fine.

They were low on the penalties. And that was just what the doctor ordered last week to set up this week. And now they've got to go do it again. And, you know, there is confidence in the building. It feels, you know, even with that four game skid, they never really lost the confidence. It was always there on the practice field just to carry over to the game. That's the most important part, of course, you know that.

You can practice well all year long. So that's where they are. And I think they've maybe survived that December lull and now a win and they're the champs. J.P. Shadrach is with us for the first time in 2024 and that's because the Jags are on the cusp of a second consecutive AFC South title. He's a senior reporter with the Jaguars Radio Network. Also here on Westwood One.

It's after hours here on CBS Sports Radio. Kind of neat to see that both Travis Etienne and Calvin Ridley are on the cusp of 1,000 yard seasons. How would you describe the addition, the wrinkle of Calvin this season with the Jags?

It's been a little inconsistent, to be quite honest with you. There are moments early in the year where he would, you know, false start, which is kind of odd, right? And then drop a football and then false start again because he was thinking about the drop and then drop another.

There was that. So it seemed like he could kind of spiral mid-game maybe the wrong way if things weren't going well. Other moments, he's nearly unguardable. I mean, he's uncomfortable.

He runs such great routes and he's open. And I think the frustration sometimes can get to him of maybe the rhythm is not there for whatever reason on a certain day. But when it's there, OK, he's got something.

There's certainly something there. The trick with this offense, though, and they haven't had it since the Monday Night Football game back in early December against Cincinnati. Well, they haven't had their full arsenal of wide receivers out there. And that has affected Calvin, I think, in that four-game skit because Christian Kirk's been out for four weeks. He might be back this week.

We'll see. And Zay Jones has had a knee injury and a hamstring injury that he's been battling through all season. The hamstrings fairly recent. He could be back this week. So it could be the first time since early December that they have all the big three back out there.

And I think that could change some some things for Calvin to the weight, you know, the coverage and things. And, you know, for the floor of it's a one year trial. Right. Let's be honest. The last year of his deal and they traded for him last season and hoping to get reinstated. He did. He's out there. He's got a lot to prove this year. And would you know, is it the best year of all time? No, I think he'd probably be the first to tell you that.

Is it the worst? Oh, gosh, no. I mean, he's been a very good addition to this team. And I think with those other pieces around him, he becomes an even better piece to this team and they might have that Sunday. What is the bigger surprise to you in the AFC South? A nine and seven Colts team that has a new head coach, a rookie, as well as Gardner Minshew as their quarterback. Or is it the Houston Texans with a first year head coach and D'Amico Ryans and CJ Stroud, who is a rookie QB?

You know, of those two, just the Colts. I mean, they had with the running back issues they had early in the year and obviously the quarterback going down. And their defense, one of their big keys on defense, not being there now. I mean, there's so much change in that organization right now.

And then Gardner Minshew, who we know very well, right? That one is really surprising to me that they are this much in the mix and on the cusp of a playoff. They win the game, they're in the playoffs on Sunday or on Saturday when they play against Houston. That's a big one with all the change there and everything that's happened. And then the Texans, just the play of CJ Stroud, I mean, the numbers he's putting up when he's on.

And I mean, that is fantastic to see for him. I mean, it's going to be tough in this division for a long time if they can settle in and get some more pieces around him and really do it right. They could be formidable, I think, for a long time to come.

But of those two, to answer your question, I think Andy is the one. I mean, just with everything that changed down there and continues to change. And the fact that they went away from a playoff berth is pretty remarkable.

J.P. Shadrach of the Jaguars Radio Network is with us here after hours on CBS Sports Radio. Remember, last year, the Jaguars were a bit of a surprise, right? Where they really had that great surge toward the end of the season.

They catch up with the backsliding Titans, who honestly haven't done a whole lot to fix anything in 2023. Were you expecting something more from the Jags this season? And I know with the four-game losing skid, that hurt. But I don't know, at times I'm not sure I felt like the Jags took a major step forward this season.

It's an excellent point, Amy. And I think the brass around the Jaguars probably felt the same way. They've made a playoff run last year. Not necessarily going out and getting a whole bunch of extra help to solidify or deepen the roster. I mean, they kind of counted on guys getting better. The draft picks that they had already in.

The pre-aging guys that they signed before last season and in the addition of Wrigley. Okay, they thought, oh, all right. And they said this at the start of the year. This is a 30-point-a-game offense. That's what they felt it was going to be.

And it just hasn't clicked. It hasn't been that this year. The offensive line's been banged up.

And Trevor's been hurt on the injury report four different times. And she ran out of the lineup. They just haven't had that whole group together for a run of weeks in a row to get that thing going. The defense has really carried it when it's been good. They've been stopping the run, at least for the most part of the season, until Baltimore comes to town. That happens when Baltimore comes to town against anybody. And they were taking the ball away early.

They hit a lull where they weren't doing any of the others. And they're healthy now. I mean, all the defense is back. All the starters that were out there.

There's no defensive players on the injury report this week. So that's a good sign. Nice. So, you know, I think they felt like, you know, this was probably... At the end of the day, if they win the game, they're a 10-win team. That's pretty strong. And a lot of folks around here might have said, hey, 12, 11, 12 wins somewhere in there.

But they're not far off that at the end of the day. Has it been the cleanest season? No. How many seasons are the cleanest seasons? It comes and goes. And you have runs like this where you struggle at times. And when you have strong leadership on the team, you can kind of weather those storms. And I think maybe, just maybe, they have weathered this one in December.

And at the end of the day, if they win, all that talk doesn't matter anymore. They're in the playoffs and that's where they're at. How much excitement is there with the fan base considering it's week 18 and they are, in fact, on top of the South?

Oh, it's, yeah, it's big. I mean, last year's run was wild. And that, I don't know if it'd be tough to match that anytime until there's a Super Bowl around here, right? But, yeah, I mean, they're in first place. That's the thing when people didn't realize in their school game skid, oh, there's a lot of criticism, there's a lot of talk around the team and around town about what's going on, who's coming back next year, all this stuff. Well, the whole time they're in first place. Like, okay, well, they're still managing this thing.

People kind of forget that. So, I think people will be really jacked up for this game on Sunday in Nashville. And if they get it done, then home playoff game against the Browns and, yeah, this place should be packed and overflowing with energy, I think, in the wildcard round. Not a bad way to start a brand new year.

2024 with infinite possibilities. J.P. Shadrach on Twitter, one of our favorites, senior reporter with the Jaguars. Your home on Westwood One as well doing play-by-play.

And here we go into week 18 and beyond. J.P., happy New Year to you. Thank you so much for a couple of minutes, always. Hey, happy New Year.

I think the last time we talked it was in London. So, it's been a while. Let's not make it as long next time, Amy. Always a pleasure. Thank you. Thank you, Amy. Thank you, Amy. Thank you, Amy. Thank you, Amy.