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Michael DiRocco, ESPN Staff WriterDec 1, 2024, 10:11 PM ET
- Michael DiRocco is an NFL reporter at ESPN. DiRocco covers the Jacksonville Jaguars. He previously covered the University of Florida for over a decade for ESPN.com and Florida Times-Union. DiRocco graduated from Jacksonville University and is a multiple APSE award winner. You can follow DiRocco on Twitter at @ESPNdirocco.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars‘ season took another turn for the worse Sunday when Trevor Lawrence sustained a concussion on a tackle by Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair — which the quarterback’s teammates described as a “dirty hit.”
Lawrence was making his return to action Sunday after missing two games because of a left shoulder injury. The concussion has led to questions over whether the Jaguars should shut Lawrence down for the rest of the season rather than risk further injury to their franchise quarterback, who signed a five-year, $275 million contract in the offseason.
The Jaguars are now 2-10 and were officially eliminated from contention in the AFC South with the 23-20 loss to the Texans. Another loss would eliminate them from playoff contention.
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Lawrence’s concussion is the latest setback in a disappointing 2024. The season began with playoff expectations after owner Shad Khan said this was the best Jaguars team ever assembled. But nothing has gone to plan.
The team has been riddled with injuries, the offense has regressed, and the Jaguars entered Sunday with the worst defense in the league. Coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke also face uncertain futures.
Here is an initial look at Lawrence’s status:
What do we know about Lawrence’s injury?
Al-Shaair hit Lawrence in the head after the quarterback slid at the end of a 6-yard scramble late in the first half, and Lawrence’s helmet hit the turf hard as he was knocked backward. Jaguars tight end Evan Engram retaliated against Al-Shaair, and that sparked the first of two fights between the teams. By the time the scrum cleared, officials ejected Al-Shaair for an illegal hit to the quarterback’s head and neck area and assessed Engram a personal foul penalty.
The brawl happened a few yards away from Lawrence, who was down on his back with his arms in what appeared to be the fencing posture — an involuntary position that occurs after a brain injury. Lawrence was on the field for several minutes being tended to by medical staff before eventually being taken off on a cart — he rode in front sitting up. The team then ruled him out for the rest of the game because of a concussion.
Other than confirming Lawrence is in the concussion protocol, Pederson didn’t have much information immediately after the game because he said he hadn’t yet talked to team doctors. But he did say he talked to Lawrence at halftime and that “Trevor’s going to be fine.”
Lawrence was seen walking out of the locker room postgame with his wife, Marissa. He posted to X on Sunday night saying he was “home and feeling better.”
He will have to progress through the protocol, and that’s something that could take days or weeks. Pederson said earlier this season that he learned during Lawrence’s stretch of injuries last season (ankle, knee, shoulder and a concussion) that Lawrence needs practice to feel comfortable playing, so it’s logical to assume that if Lawrence doesn’t return to practice until late in the week, his chance of playing against Tennessee on Sunday isn’t good.
play
1:06
Fight breaks out after late hit knocks Trevor Lawrence out of game
Tensions boil over as the Texans’ Azeez Al-Shaair is ejected for a late hit on a sliding Trevor Lawrence, who has to be carted off following the play.
Could the team shut down Lawrence for the season?
Pederson said after the game it was too soon to think about that, but it certainly would make sense. Lawrence sprained his left AC joint against the Eagles in Week 9 and had missed the team’s past two games. He’s not completely healthy and earlier in the week said he wasn’t going to rule out surgery on his shoulder before the season ended.
The Jaguars are down two starting receivers (Christian Kirk and Gabe Davis) and the season is essentially over, so they might not want to risk his health any further.
Is this Lawrence’s first concussion?
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It’s his second diagnosed concussion with the Jaguars and third known diagnosed concussion dating back to his three-year career at Clemson.
Lawrence suffered a concussion in the Jaguars’ Week 15 loss to Baltimore last December but started the Jaguars’ next game against Tampa Bay. Lawrence also suffered a concussion against Syracuse during his freshman season at Clemson (2018) but started the following week against Wake Forest.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered a concussion earlier this season in which he displayed the fencing posture. He spent five weeks on injured reserve. Tagovailoa had a history of three previous concussions. Depending on the severity of Lawrence’s concussion, the Jaguars could opt to follow a similar path by resting him for the rest of the season.
Will Mac Jones continue to be the backup if Lawrence is out long term?
Yes. The Jaguars really don’t have much choice. The team re-signed C.J. Beathard on Nov. 6, three days after Lawrence injured his nonthrowing shoulder against Philadelphia, as additional QB depth, and he was Jones’ backup against Minnesota and Detroit.
Beathard, who had been Lawrence’s backup from 2021 to 2023, was the emergency quarterback Sunday and was eligible to play against the Texans had Jones gotten hurt. Jones had struggled in his two starts while Lawrence was out, throwing for a combined 249 yards and no touchdowns with three interceptions and leading the Jaguars to a combined 13 points in losses to Minnesota and Detroit.
Jones had his best game of the season against the Texans, throwing for 235 yards and two touchdowns after Lawrence left.
