JACKSONVILLE – The Jaguars remain scheduled to play a game Sunday.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence will start that game.
Those were the primary takeaways when Interim Head Coach Darrell Bevell spoke to the media Friday as a week marked by a slew of COVID-19-related transactions around the Jaguars continued.
"All the communication is the game is on," Bevell said as the Jaguars (2-13) prepared to play the New England Patriots (9-6) at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday.
The Jaguars on Friday morning announced they had activated seven players from the Reserve/COVID-19 list: defensive end/linebacker Josh Allen, running back Travis Etienne Jr., tight end Luke Farrell, linebacker Myles Jack, wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr., defensive end/linebacker Jordan Smith and linebacker Damien Wilson.
Etienne returned to injured reserve while the other six returned to the active roster.
Twenty players remained on Reserve/COVID-19 as of late Friday morning, including: guard Ben Bartch, defensive lineman Malcom Brown, outside linebacker/defensive end K'Lavon Chaisson, safety Rudy Ford, defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton, center Brandon Linder, returner Jaydon Mickens, tight end Chris Manhertz, defensive end/linebacker Lerentee McCray, guard Andrew Norwell, left tackle Cam Robinson, defensive tackle Jay Tufele, defensive lineman Jihad Ward and safety Andrew Wingard.
The Jaguars on Friday afternoon announced that defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi and defensive quality control coach Patrick Reilly are unavailable for Sunday's game to COVID-19 protocols. If Lupoi can't coach Sunday, assistant defensive line coach Sterling Lucas will assume his gameday responsibilities.
The Jaguars also placed cornerback Shaquill Griffin on the Reserve/COVID-19 list Friday.
With four starting offensive linemen – Linder, Robinson, Norwell and Bartch – still on the list, Bevell was asked if there was a chance Lawrence might not play.
"There is not," Bevell said.
The Jaguars have until 4 p.m. Saturday to announce players who could be eligible to play Sunday. Bevell said the Jaguars may have the option of flying players to Foxborough Sunday if they clear protocols that morning.
"We have it on standby to be able to get those guys there if we need to," he said. "We're going to take it right up to the end with those guys."
NOTABLE
Jaguars tight end James O’Shaughnessy was ruled out Friday after not practicing this week with a hip injury. Linebacker Dakota Allen was listed as questionable on the week's final injury report with a shoulder injury.
