JACKSONVILLE – It's Trevor Time.
It's time for all other Jaguars starters, too.
Starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence and all other healthy Jaguars starters are expected to play against the Cleveland Browns Friday in the Jaguars' 2022 preseason home opener at TIAA Bank Field, Head Coach Doug Pederson said Wednesday.
"This week I'm going to let the starters play," Pederson said Wednesday before Day 11 2022 Training Camp practice at Episcopal School of Jacksonville Knight Sports Campus.
Pederson held Lawrence and most offensive starters out of a preseason-opening loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in the Hall of Fame Game last Thursday.
Pederson said starters likely will play "a couple of series" Friday.
"Nothing too crazy," Pederson said. "Nothing too long. We just want to get them the feel of the game, get them in there and get them working in game situations."
Pederson is entering his first season as the Jaguars' head coach. Friday will mark the first in-game repetitions for Lawrence in the offense being installed by Pederson, first-year coordinator Press Taylor and the rest of the offensive staff.
"For him (Lawrence), it's important, but also for the offense," Pederson said. "It's a new scheme. We've got new faces, new people out there that he's working with, a new center … just seeing all of it put together.
"We just want have some crisp plays, some good execution, try to score a few points and get them out."
Running back James Robinson, the Jaguars' leading rusher the last few seasons, continues to return from an Achilles injury sustained late last season and Pederson said Robinson won't play Friday. Wide receiver Jamal Agnew (hip) and wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. also aren't expected to play, while Jawaan Taylor (hamstring) likely will play and rotate with Walker Little at first-team right tackle.
"It will be good to get him back out there," Pederson said of Taylor.
Running back Travis Etienne, the No. 25 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, is expected to play. It will mark Etienne's first in-game repetitions since sustaining a Lisfranc injury last preseason.
"We've seen a lot here in practice, but now get under the lights with the roar of the crowd, it's a different feel," Pederson said. "That's why you do it, right? You kind of practice for all those scenarios and he's one of the guys we want to see."
Pederson said he expects backup quarterback C.J. Beathard to play when Lawrence leaves Friday's game. Beathard did not play against the Raiders after sustaining a groin injury late in the offseason program.
"We don't need to a lot from C.J.," Pederson said. "But it will be the first time for him to be under a live scenario other than the other day (in practice). I just want to see him out there and see how well he executes the offense. We don't need to see a ton, but still want to see some time on the field."
NOTABLE
The Jaguars on Tuesday re-signed quarterback E.J. Perry and released quarterback Kyle Sloter. Perry signed with the Jaguars as a collegiate free agent shortly after the 2022 NFL Draft, with the team releasing him shortly before '22 camp because of a hamstring issue. "He was with us all spring," Pederson said. "We had time invested in him. Kyle did a nice job for us while he was here, but in E.J. we had a guy we liked coming out of the draft. We brought him in here. He's a sharp kid, a smart kid. He's healthy and ready to go."
QUOTABLE
Pederson on wide receiver Zay Jones: "He's playing fast. He's explosive. I think him and Trevor have built a really good rapport. There's a connection there. They're working through some details and routes. They're getting to know body language, from quarterback to receiver. Zay has done a great job understanding our system, picking it up fast. He's playing fast."
