The Jacksonville Jaguars faced a significant challenge on Sunday as their starting quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, suffered a concussion during a game against the Houston Texans. This incident occurred late in the first half when Lawrence was tackled by Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, who has since been described by teammates as committing a “dirty hit.”
Lawrence had only just returned to play after missing two games due to a left shoulder injury. The latest setback has raised concerns about whether the team should consider shutting him down for the remainder of the season to ensure his long-term health. This is particularly pertinent as Lawrence is the franchise’s cornerstone player, recently signing a substantial five-year, $275 million contract.
Following their 23-20 loss to the Texans, the Jaguars now sit at 2-10, effectively marking them out of playoff contention for this season. The team had high hopes at the beginning of the year, but injuries and a struggling offense, paired with what has been the league’s poorest defense, have derailed these ambitions. Coaching staff, including head coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke, also face their own uncertainties as the franchise looks to regroup.
Lawrence’s injury occurred when he was sliding after a run, leading to an illegal hit from Al-Shaair. The collision resulted in Lawrence’s helmet making hard contact with the ground, rendering him momentarily unable to get up. Medical personnel attended to him on the field, and he was subsequently carted off, although he was later seen walking out with his wife and sharing on social media that he was “home and feeling better.”
Health updates on Lawrence are still pending as he enters the concussion protocol, a process that can vary in duration. Pederson, who stated post-game it was premature to discuss shutting down Lawrence for the season, acknowledged that they must prioritize his recovery. Given that the Jaguars are already without two starting receivers and their season is effectively over, the team may lean towards keeping Lawrence sidelined to avoid risking further injury.
This incident marks the second diagnosed concussion Lawrence has suffered while playing for the Jaguars, and the third in his football career. He previously dealt with one last season and another during his college days at Clemson.
In the case Lawrence needs a prolonged recovery period, backup quarterback Mac Jones is anticipated to continue leading the team. Jones stepped up after Lawrence’s exit and managed a respectable performance against the Texans, throwing for 235 yards and two touchdowns.
While the season has not gone as planned for the Jaguars, this could be an opportunity for the team to focus on long-term recovery and rebuilding, ensuring that key players, like Lawrence, are given the time and care they need to come back stronger in future seasons.