Jacksonville Jaguars fans are hoping that the team can turn its fortunes around.
They have been drafting first overall for two years and they hope that Trevor Lawrence and Travon Walker will be cornerstones of their squad for years to come.
Aside from those players, the Jaguars added a ton of talent this offseason to improve their winning chances.
Some of the athletes they added are Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, and Brandon Scherff.
Likewise, they hired Doug Pederson as head coach and hope that he can bring the same success he delivered with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Jaguars fans will have a glimpse of the revamped squad during the Hall of Fame Game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
However, NFL Network national insider Ian Rapoport announced the absence of two key players.
#Jaguars coach Doug Pederson announced that QB Trevor Lawrence and RB Travis Etienne won't play in the Hall of Fame game on Thursday. Expect the #Raiders to be on the same page with several starters watching from the sidelines.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 2, 2022
Rapoport tweeted, “#Jaguars coach Doug Pederson announced that QB Trevor Lawrence and RB Travis Etienne won’t play in the Hall of Fame game on Thursday. Expect the #Raiders to be on the same page with several starters watching from the sidelines.”
After all, the Hall of Fame Game does not reflect on the win-loss column.
Taking Caution Over A No-Bearing Game
Therefore, it would be better for both teams to rest their key players to lessen the chances of an injury.
The Jaguars cannot afford to have Lawrence injured because he is all they have behind center.
Likewise, they are bringing in Etienne gradually after he missed the entire 2021 season due to a foot injury.
When healthy, the Clemson connection could do wonders for Jacksonville.
But for now, the team won’t risk having them even for one sequence because untoward things can happen.
Still, Lawrence and Etienne will likely have some snaps during the preseason to further develop their chemistry.
NEXT: NFL Reporter Sets Hilarious Goals For Doug Pederson In Jacksonville
