The Jaguars signed Matt Barkley off the Giants’ practice squad.
With Trevor Lawrence’s availability uncertain due to a sprained right shoulder, Barkley could wind up as the backup to C.J. Beathard, who has finished two of the last four games in relief of an injured Lawrence.
Barkley, 33, was the Giants’ No. 2 option to Tommy DeVito for three games while Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor were injured, but the veteran never got into a game.
With Taylor returning in recent weeks, it pushed Barkley back down the depth chart.
It is possible that the Giants could bring back recently released Jacob Eason for a second stint on the practice squad to fill Barkley’s spot.
The Giants had signed Barkley when Taylor initially hurt his ribs in late October and eventually landed on injured reserve.
Lawrence has not missed a start despite suffering a high ankle sprain and a concussion in recent games, but his latest injury could force him to miss Sunday’s matchup against the Panthers.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport noted the Jaguars’ decision to add Barkley to the 53-man roster is a sign that Lawrence is unlikely to go on Sunday.
Lawrence said after Sunday’s 30-12 loss to the Buccaneers that the injury was “bothering” him.
The 24-year-old suffered the injury when he was shoved as he was diving for a first down late in the third quarter.
“When I landed I knew something was off,” Lawrence said. “And the next play it kind of hurts to throw. I wanted to finish the drive out and we were able to get some points, and then on the two-point [conversion attempt] could tell by the way I threw it I couldn’t really get my shoulder up good enough to really keep playing.”
The home matchup with the NFL-worst Panthers is a must-win game with the 8-6 Jaguars, which are in a three-way tie atop the AFC North with the Colts and Texans.
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