Trevor Lawrence’s tough month continued on Sunday, as the Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback was forced out of his team’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a right shoulder injury.
Background
The injury comes just one week after Lawrence cleared concussion protocol following a helmet-to-helmet hit in a Week 15 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. After practicing fully on Thursday and Friday, the former No. 1 overall pick was cleared to play on Sunday against the Bucs.
However, his return would be short-lived.
The Latest Injury
Midway through the fourth quarter, Lawrence took a hit on a throw attempt and landed hard on his right shoulder. He was slow to get up and was examined by trainers on the field before heading to the medical tent.
He would eventually jog to the locker room for further evaluation.
Trevor Lawrence’s Status
| Quarter | Description |
|---|---|
| Q1-Q3 | No injury, Lawrence plays entire game up to this point |
| Q4 | Takes hard hit, lands on right shoulder. Slow to get up |
| Q4 | Heads to medical tent on sideline |
| Q4 | Jogs to locker room for further tests |
Backup quarterback C.J. Beathard entered the game with the Jaguars trailing 23-6. According to reports, Lawrence will undergo further testing on the shoulder to determine the extent of the injury.
What This Means
With only two weeks remaining in the regular season, the timing of Lawrence’s latest injury could not be worse. The Jaguars entered Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay clinging to fading playoff hopes at 6-8.
However, the severity of the injury remains unknown. Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson did not have an update after the game.
If forced to miss time, Lawrence would likely be replaced by Beathard, a veteran backup. This would be a huge blow to Jacksonville’s chances of making the postseason.
Making matters worse, the Jaguars face a tough matchup against the Houston Texans in Week 17. Led by rookie Kyle Allen, the Texans gave Jacksonville all they could handle for most of their Week 5 contest before Lawrence led a late comeback.
Allen and Houston’s defense have improved since that earlier meeting. Beathard or any other quarterback replacing Lawrence would have their hands full on the road.
What Happens Next?
All eyes will be on the results of Lawrence’s shoulder tests over the coming days. As Pederson noted, “Obviously, we gotta get him checked out and see where he’s at.”
If no major damage is detected, Lawrence could conceivably return to the field next Sunday as the Jaguars fight for that last AFC wild card spot.
However, his recent injury history is undoubtedly a concern. Lawrence suffered a toe injury earlier in the season before landing in concussion protocol last week. This latest shoulder setback only adds to the team’s worries about their franchise quarterback’s durability.
At the very least, Jacksonville must consider resting Lawrence in Week 17 if they are eliminated from contention. With two years still remaining on his rookie contract, he represents the future of the franchise.
For now, Lawrence’s status remains uncertain. But this shoulder injury could not have occurred at a worse time for both him and the Jaguars.
This is undoubtedly a story that will continue to develop over the coming days as more details emerge. Lawrence’s availability not only impacts Jacksonville’s postseason hopes, but also has potential long-term ramifications for the team and their young quarterback.
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