It has been a rough couple of weeks for Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence as he has dealt with multiple injury issues. Heading into a crucial Week 16 for the Jaguars, Lawrence once again looks set to be touch and go in terms of being available.
Let’s take a look at the latest injury update for Lawrence, and what it could mean for the AFC playoff picture.
Trevor Lawrence Injury Update
There were a couple of worrying moments for Lawrence in the game against the Baltimore Ravens, but it wasn’t until after the game that we found out Lawrence was being placed in the concussion protocol. He did not miss any time during the game itself, playing 100% of the offensive snaps but took some hard hits throughout.
During his media availability, head coach Doug Pederson informed reporters of the situation with Lawrence. “In Trevor’s case, he was evaluated after the game, and he’ll actually enter the [concussion] protocol.”
In a follow-up question, Pederson told reporters he thought the concussion may have happened on a run play late in the game. With around five minutes left in the fourth quarter, Lawrence was hit in the head area on a scramble by Ravens’ LB Roquan Smith.
Lawrence was able to stay in the game and finish out the drive. The Jaguars’ offense did not return to the field after that.
Per the NFL concussion protocol, “when a player receives a hit to the head, he goes into the concussion protocol if he either; exhibits or reports symptoms or signs suggestive of a concussion or stinger; or, the team Athletic Trainer, booth ATC spotter, team Physician, NFL game official, coach, teammate, sideline Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant (UNC) or booth UNC initiates the protocol.”
Lawrence must now follow a five-step process in order to be cleared ahead of Week 16. There is no set time frame for a player to return from a concussion since every concussion is unique. This season, on average, we’ve seen players miss just over a week as they work through the concussion protocol.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
However, there have been a few examples of players being able to play the following week after being placed into the protocol. If Lawrence clears the five-step process and is cleared by the Jaguars’ medical staff, he will then need to be cleared by an independent neurological consultant.
Being in the concussion protocol, Lawrence was not made available to the media after the game. Therefore, we did not get any further information than what Pederson said during his availability in the postgame. On Monday, Pederson told the media, “I’m not at liberty to speculate on head injuries. I can’t say one way or another.”
What Does Lawrence’s Injury Mean for the Jaguars’ Playoff Chances?
Concussions are incredibly tricky, and the NFL has gone to great lengths to ensure that a player is not cleared until they are fully recovered. All eyes will be on Jacksonville this week as Lawrence works his way through the protocol in hopes of being ready to play in Week 16.
If Lawrence is not ready, C.J. Beathard would be expected to start for the Jaguars. Beathard has not started a game in the NFL since 2020 when he was with the San Francisco 49ers. He has a 2-10 record as a starter with 18 touchdowns to 14 interceptions.
Beathard has thrown a total of 27 passes in his time with the Jaguars. He did go 9 of 10 for 63 yards when Lawrence got hurt in the Jaguars’ Week 13 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Nathan Rourke would most likely be Jacksonville’s backup in that situation. He has bounced on and off the Jaguars’ roster and practice squad this season, and has yet to throw a pass in an NFL game.
In Week 16, Jacksonville will square off against the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers put together an impressive showing against the Green Bay Packers this past week. With the Jaguars only topping the AFC South thanks to head-to-head tiebreakers over the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts, they really can’t afford another slip-up this season.
Heading into the start of the week, the Jaguars have a 78.9% chance of making the playoffs and a 64.4% chance of winning the AFC South according to ESPN’s Football Power Index. The positive for Jacksonville is that they control their destiny. If they win out, the division and a home game on Wild Card Weekend is theirs.
MORE: Ravens Expose ‘Unserious’ Jaguars as 2023 AFC Contenders Become Clearer
However, the margin for error is almost non-existent. At 8-6, the Jaguars are tied with the Colts and Texans in terms of overall record. They hold a 2-0 head-to-head tiebreaker over Indianapolis but split the games with Houston.
As things stand, the Jaguars only have one divisional loss, while both of their rivals have two. If Jacksonville defeats the Tennessee Titans in Week 18, they will win any AFC South tiebreaker scenario. However, if they lose to the Titans, then it could come down to common-game records between the Jaguars and Texans if the two are tied.
Entering Week 16, the Jaguars’ common-games record with Houston is unassailable if the two teams end up tied on wins. Jacksonville holds a 6-3 record against common opponents with three games to play. The Texans are at 5-4. Any form of tie between the Colts, Texans, and Jaguars will work out in Jacksonville’s favor.
The other problem for the Jaguars, however, is that one loss could drop them out of the playoff picture altogether.
With the Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Colts, and Texans all sitting with eight wins, one loss could see Jacksonville slump to ninth in the AFC in Week 16. Their 6-5 conference record and a head-to-head victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers will at least stop them from falling any further.
Want to predict the rest of the 2023 season with our FREE NFL Playoff Predictor? Looking for the most up-to-date NFL standings? What about a breakdown of team depth charts or the NFL schedule? Pro Football Network has you covered with that and more!