JACKSONVILLE – He was better Wednesday than Tuesday.

What that means for Trevor Lawrence's status Sunday is uncertain, with the Jaguars' quarterback again dealing with an injury as a key late-season game approaches.

Lawrence did not practice Wednesday as the AFC South-leading Jaguars (8-7) prepared to play the Carolina Panthers (2-13) at EverBank Stadium Sunday at 1 p.m. He sustained a sprained right AC joint in a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this past Sunday.

"It's feeling decent – a little bit better today," Lawrence said Wednesday. "The last couple days, it has been progressing pretty good – still sore, but it's feeling a little bit better."

Lawrence, the Jaguars' third-year quarterback, has left three of the last four games with injuries. This marks the fourth time this season his game status has been uncertain during the week because of an injury in the previous game.

C.J. Beathardwould start at quarterback if Lawrence can't play. He is 2-10 as a starter in seven NFL seasons with all 12 starts coming with the San Francisco 49ers from 2017-2020.

"We all have ultimate confidence in C.J. that he'll get himself ready to play the game – same with Trevor," Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor said Wednesday, adding of Lawrence:

"He will get himself as ready as he possibly can. We'll figure out where he is in terms of getting physical reps, where he is in terms of making it on game day. But we expect both those guys to be prepared and ready to play."

Lawrence has started 49 consecutive regular-season games, starting three times this season after sustaining injuries the previous week.

Lawrence started a Week 7 victory over the New Orleans Saints four days after sustaining a knee injury in a victory over the Indianapolis Colts. He started a Week 14 loss to the Cleveland Browns six days after sustaining a high-ankle sprain in a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. He started the loss to the Buccaneers seven days after sustaining a concussion in the loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

"It's kind of when one thing starts to feel a little better, something else happens," Lawrence said. "It kind of has been one of those years, but it's just this game sometimes. It's unfortunate, but just keep battling through it and get back as soon as I can."

He added of his outlook for the week, "You never know how things are going to heal up and how quickly you're going to recover. Right now it's still pretty sore and still kind of working through the beginning stages of getting back. We'll kind of see how it goes."

Lawrence said his current issue involving his right shoulder makes this situation different than past injuries.

"That makes it a little tough," he said. "This is a little unique because it's throwing shoulder, which can make things a little more challenging as a quarterback. It's kind of hard to work around that compared to other body parts and things that are bothering you that you can kind of work around a little bit.

"Of course I'll do anything I can to be out there and play. We'll just have to see how it feels each day. I can't really answer that now, but I'm doing everything I can to be able to play.

"I don't know what, what that looks like quite yet. Here on Wednesday, it's still early."

Wednesday marked the fifth time this season Lawrence has been listed as not practicing on the injury report. He did not practice one day and was limited in two practices leading into the victory over the Saints. He was limited all three days leading to a victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers the following week.

He did not practice Wednesday and was limited Thursday and Friday before the Browns loss. He missed practice last Wednesday and Thursday before working limited one day before the Buccaneers loss.

"It definitely adds a challenge when you just talk about preparing, the plan and all those things," Lawrence said. "It's nice to be able to get the reps in practice, the full speed reps, with the receivers, the running backs, the line up front, the communication aspect of it. That's obviously important.

"On the other end of it, I've played well in games where I didn't practice in the past, but there's no avoiding the fact that it is important to practice and get the reps. I'd love to be able to get out there as soon as I can because I know that's important and that's something that we need.

"There's no excuses, though. When you step on the field on Sunday, you have a job to do and you have to get the result. There's no excuse of not being able to practice. When you go out there on Sunday, you have to perform and you have to play well."

NOTABLE

• Wide receiver Zay Jones practiced limited Wednesday after missing Sunday with a hamstring injury. Other Jaguars players practicing limited Wednesday: Cornerback Christian Braswell (hamstring), cornerback Tyson Campbell (finger), safety Andre Cisco (groin), left guard Ezra Cleveland (knee), offensive lineman Walker Little (hamstring), left tackle Cam Robinson (knee) and tight end Brenton Strange (foot). Beathard (left shoulder) practiced full Wednesday.