JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Michael from Orange Park, FL

Trevor Lawrence isn't going to play. Why don't you just say it?

Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence has practiced limited throughout the week, with Head Coach Doug Pederson on Friday saying it's trending toward Lawrence not playing against the Minnesota Vikings at EverBank Stadium Sunday. He officially was listed as questionable on the team's final injury report of the week Friday. Lawrence, who originally sustained an injury to his left shoulder in a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday, has been on the injury report as practicing limited all week. Pederson when discussing this Friday said Lawrence has been very limited this week. While all these goings on point very heavily toward Lawrence not playing Sunday, that doesn't necessarily mean he absolutely won't play. It means it's unlikely, which Pederson essentially said Friday when meeting with the media for the final time before the game. Why not "just" say he's not playing? Because it wasn't necessarily true. And why not keep a little mystery in the equation? That's part of the fun.

Hermun from Formerly from the mean streets of Southside

Heard a lot of opinions on what good it does to fire a general manager in the middle of the season. Wouldn't it give the new general manager and his staff more time for scouting and evaluations for the following season?

I have received many versions of these emails in recent weeks, which is understandable given the Jaguars' 2-7 record entering Sunday's game. One reason you don't fire a general manager in the middle of the season is if you're not yet sure you want to part ways with him, and that remains very possible in this situation. Remember: General manager and head coaching changes are the responsibility of Jaguars Owner Shad Khan. Only Khan at this point knows his thoughts on this, and it's possible – even likely – that he has yet to make a decision on these fronts. We do, after all, have eight games remaining in the 2024 regular season, and Khan's history is that he takes a measured approach to these decisions as opposed to quick-trigger reactions – and avoiding such reactions is perhaps the best reason you don't fire general managers or head coaches in-season. It's often best to let seasons play out rather than getting caught up in the week-to-week highs and lows of a season. Either way, there isn't all that much benefit to making such a move regarding a general manager in November. You probably aren't going to hire a new general manager and get his decision-making staff in place until January (ish) anyway. And whoever you hire in that scenario almost certainly already is scouting and aware enough of personnel to adequately execute the following offseason.

John from Jax

Hi, KOAGF - Here is the bottom line. Are the Jags eliminated from the playoffs yet? No. Then, play to win. If we win, we likely are still in the mix for a playoff spot for the next game with the odds going up a few percentage points. Then, win again and repeat. If we lose and are mathematically eliminated, then play to spoil other team's chances. There is always motivation.

Indeed.

Don from Marshall, NC

Look at the job the Vikings have done. They did it the right way and this team is set up for long-term success. A very impressive looking football team. This will either be a slight opening or door slamming outcome. I say the defense plays their best game of the season and the Jaguars stay alive! Go Jaguars!

When it comes to being enthusiastic about both the Jaguars and their opponent – who indeed are quietly one of the NFL's better franchises – Don remains "all in."

Zach from Trevor, WI

Thursday Night Football showed us what a quarterback that can elevate their team looks like. We don't have that and four years in, don't you think it's fair to question if we'll ever get that from our current quarterback situation?

Of course it's a fair question. It's why we discuss it weekly and even daily here in the O-Zone. Lawrence clearly isn't at the level of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, the two quarterbacks who played on Thursday Night Football this week. He's also not at the level of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes or Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Those four quarterbacks, from this view, are currently the NFL's best. Lawrence is still improving. He's still developing. He still is maturing in terms of pocket presence and situational awareness. Maybe he'll get there. Maybe he won't. But it's still incorrect to say he absolutely won't. It's correct to say we don't know.

Bradley from Sparks, NV

I've noticed that for several years when mentioning elite quarterbacks that you put Lamar Jackson a tier below your two favorites (Mahomes, Allen). Are you finally ready to promote Lamar to the top tier?

I'd take Mahomes, Burrow and Allen before I'd take Jackson. Don't get me wrong: I'd take Jackson. He's special. He's a Hall of Famer. But I'm an old-school guy and I like quarterbacks that win from the pocket a bit more than Jackson's style.

Sal from Austin, TX

What's up, John? Nothing at all on Tony Khan wrecking this organization? We the fans don't deserve at least that, a basic level of transparency?

Some questions don't get answered because of a basic level of silliness.

Eric from Jax Beach

I officially gave up hope that we're recreating the 2-6 magic of 2022 with our last loss. Now I just want to see, and excited to see, what our future holds. Does Lawrence finish the year showing more consistency and keep the solid play he's had of late? Do wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., running back Tank Bigsby, tight end Brenton Strange, linebacker Ventrell Miller and wide receiver Parker Washington keep developing into core pieces? Is Walker Little the answer at left tackle? Does defensive end Travon Walker keep ascending and do defensive end Josh Hines-Allen and cornerback Tyson Campbell bounce back in the second half? How does the win/loss put us in draft position to fill future holes? Not the excitement I wanted this year but plenty to keep an eye on for sure!

A few thoughts on you many, many – did I say, "many?" – thoughts. One is that the young core of Thomas, Bigsby, Strange, etc. – indeed is an area to watch, with many of those players showing good signs of developing into really good players. Another is that there appears little sign of Walker not continuing to ascend. He has reached a level where it's clear he's at minimum really, really good with significant potential to be far better than that. Finally: I don't know how much Hines-Allen and Campbell need to "bounce back." They haven't stood out statistically this season, but neither have they played poorly. Far from it, in fact.

CD from Fleming Island, FL

Hey John -- at 12:59 PM on November 23, 1996, the Jags were 4-7 coming off a beat down by the Steelers -- their worst loss of the season. They fought to a 30-27 win at the Ravens, and the rest is history... Until they're mathematically eliminated, I cheer to win! Being a fan doesn't mean you have to ALWAYS bang your head against the wall. I get the doom and gloom, and I'm as depressed as the next guy watching a loss in real time, but I couldn't ever bring myself to cheer for this team to lose, regardless of what the draft looks like. Have some hope; have some fun. Or else, what's the point of it all?

True.

Rich from Dacula, GA

I got an idea popping around in my head. As a young boy I was gifted at being a pretty good athlete, just natural ability. So I drifted through schools with minimal preparation. Still did very good and hold school records. The point I'm making is TL has been the bigger version of me and won a lot as a the bigger than the other guys that came naturally. He can now look back and see the others are maturing faster than him and finds himself just above average for a professional. Could he find his way, time will tell, but it's going to take a lot of hard work. If he keeps making the mistakes a change is going to be forth coming at some point. A change of team could shock him into the motivation he needs. It's very hard to be a Jaguar fan. There are always teams that are destined to be spoilers or underperformers. Just seems we are there.

I keep getting emails about the Jaguars moving on from Lawrence. I get enough of these that I wonder if some people think this is imminent. It's not. It's not even close.

Gary from Jacksonville

why they dont fried the general mgr

That seems extreme. And even a little inhumane. Even for this forum.