Former Alabama quarterback Mac Jones has played 17 snaps for Jacksonville this season, but he’s on standby for starting duty when the Jaguars play the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence came away from the Jaguars’ 28-23 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday with an injury to his left shoulder.

The injury prompted Jacksonville to sign quarterback C.J. Beathard to its 53-man active roster from the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad on Wednesday. Beathard served as Lawrence’s backup for the previous three seasons before the Jaguars obtained Jones from the New England Patriots in March.

“Trevor’s sore, obviously,” Jacksonville coach Doug Pederson said on Wednesday about reacquiring Beathard. “It gives us assurance, obviously. Mac is still the No. 2, obviously, and prepares each week to play. And now we’ve got another veteran quarterback on the roster.”

A first-round draft choice from Alabama’s 2020 unbeaten CFP national-championship team, Jones started all 42 of the games that he played for the Patriots before being bench with six games remaining in the 2023 NFL season.

For the Jaguars, Jones has appeared in two games. He has completed 6-of-9 passes for 28 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.

Lawrence practiced on a limited basis on Wednesday.

“That’s the goal,” Lawrence said on Wednesday when asked about playing on Sunday. “I’ve been doing everything I can to be out there. Like when I’ve gotten banged up in the past, I try to do everything I can during the week to prepare myself to play on Sunday and just put as much time as possible into that and getting healthy, so that’s the way my mind is right now.”

Pederson said Wednesday was too early to gauge if Lawrence would be ready to play on Sunday or if Jacksonville would need to go with Jones under center.

“I’m not going to put a day on it on when a decision will be made,” Lawrence said about his timetable. “Want to be able to feel comfortable and feel like I can play my best and give everything I can to help our team win. I think that’s what the decision comes down to at the end of the day. That’s where my mind is and what I’m thinking about. What’s best for the team, and obviously myself, too, but ultimately for the team and what gives us the best shot to win on Sunday. I think all those things play a factor, for sure.”

The Jaguars and Vikings will square off at noon CST Sunday at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida.

The Jaguars have a 2-7 record. Minnesota has a 6-2 mark in the 2024 NFL season.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.