C.J.

Beathard

Beathard joins the Lions’ practice squad as the team’s No. 3 quarterback. The 31-year-old spent the last three seasons with the Jaguars, starting one game in 2024. He has 13 career starts and has thrown for 3,886 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions over his six-year career. Beathard will back up Jared Goff and Kyle Allen in Detroit.

The Lions also worked out free agent QB Nathan Peterman. Ironically, the Jets worked out the same duo on August 14th. The Lions currently have just two quarterbacks between their active roster and practice squad.

The Jets also worked out QB Nathan Peterman, with backup QB Tyrod Taylor sidelined for the rest of the preseason after undergoing surgery on his injured knee. Beathard last took regular season snaps with the Jaguars in 2023, while Peterman did so with the Bears that same year. The Jets also worked out WR Tyreik McAllister and TE Kole Taylor.

Beathard spent all of last season with the Jaguars but didn’t attempt a pass. The former third-round pick spent three seasons with the Jaguars from 2021-2023, throwing for 417-1-1 in limited action, but could be brought in as additional depth behind Joe Burrow and Jake Browning, and would likely compete with Desmond Ridder for the third spot on the quarterback depth chart.

Beathard will rejoin the Jaguars after spending the past two seasons in Jacksonville as Trevor Lawrence’s backup. Last year, Beathard threw for 349 yards and a touchdown in seven appearances for the Jaguars.

Beathard lost the Jaguars’ QB2 job to Mac Jones and was released with an injury settlement at the end of camp. Now apparently recovered from the groin injury he suffered in the preseason, Beathard is hoping to re-enter the space as a backup. The Giants haven’t dealt with any reported injuries to their quarterback room, but even at full strength, there are improvements that can be made. Beathard has thrown for 3886-19-14 in his career and is 3-10 as a starter. If he signs with the Giants, it will likely be as a member of their practice squad with a chance to be elevated later if needed. Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, and Tommy DeVito are all currently on the team’s 53-man roster.

The Jags’ incumbent backup sealed his Mac Jones fate when he suffered a groin injury in Jax’s second preseason contest. Despite the contest supposedly being “close,” Jones was never going to lose out to 30-year-old Beathard. His long experience will get him looks on the workout circuit.

Beathard’s injury puts a damper on his attempt to win the backup job to Mac Jones, and Jones came back into the game after Beathard left in the fourth quarter. The 30-year-old quarterback will assuredly undergo testing, but even if this is a short-term injury, there’s a very good chance that Jones will end up backing Trevor Lawrence to begin the 2024 campaign.

Beathard is the incumbent who has spent the last three years in Jacksonville and the last two years under Pederson. A true knower of the system, Beathard undoubtedly had the inside edge on this battle heading into camp and was the first to take the field in last week’s preseason game after the Jaguars pulled their starters. Beathard was solid in his outing, throwing for 125 yards and one touchdown while completing 7-of-14 passes, while Jones threw for 98 scoreless yards and completed 9-of-11 attempts. A former starter and first-round pick, Jones did about what we would expect against third-string defenders. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Jags test him against stiffer competition in one of their final two preseason games.

Beathard came in and played essentially two quarters against the Kansas City defense after Trevor Lawrence played the first two series. The 30-year-old found Devin Duvernay for a wide open 35-yard-score, and he also found Brian Thomas Jr. for a 41-yard connection. In between there were some missed throws, but it was a decent outing in his battle to beat Mac Jones for the backup gig. Beathard will be back on the field next Saturday against the Buccaneers.