Trevor Lawrence Injury Update: Latest on Jaguars QB After Week 13 Injury vs. Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence suffered an injury in the club’s Week 13 matchup against the Houston Texans. Here’s the latest from Sunday’s game.

What Happened to Trevor Lawrence?

Lawrence stayed down on the field after taking a late hit from Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair late in the second quarter.

FOX broadcaster Daryl Johnston called Al-Shaair’s hit “egregious.” Lawrence was sliding after a scramble, while the Houston linebacker appeared to have plenty of time to stop before launching his shoulder and forearm into Lawrence’s head.

Al-Shaair was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and ejected from Sunday’s game.

Watch Trevor Lawrence immediately after this horrific hit. His right arm suddenly flexes as his left arm simultaneously extends. This is known as the “fencing posture”—an involuntary reflex that occurs after impact in blunt head trauma. It signifies a traumatic brain injury with… pic.twitter.com/Saa8j8cffJ

— Sam Ghali, M.D. (@EM_RESUS) December 1, 2024

Multiple brawls broke out after Al-Shaair’s hit on Lawrence. Eventually, Jaguars tight end Evan Engram and cornerback Jarrian Jones were also called for personal fouls. Jones, like Al-Shaair, was ejected from Week 13’s contest.

Lawrence appeared to be in the fencing position — the frightening posture assumed after a concussion — on Sunday. He stayed on the field for some time before standing up and sitting on a cart, which took him to Jacksonville’s locker room.

The Jaguars immediately ruled Lawrence out with a concussion for the remainder of Sunday’s game.

“It’s a play that has no business in our league,” head coach Doug Pederson said after Jacksonville’s loss.

Pederson indicated it was too early to say whether Lawrence would play again the season. The Jaguars fell to 2-10 after Sunday’s loss and have no chance at a playoff berth, which could theoretically affect Lawrence and the club’s thinking.

Fortunately, Lawrence was spotted walking out of Jacksonville’s locker room with his wife following Sunday’s loss.

Trevor Lawrence leaving the locker room. He just walked out with wife Marissa. A good sign there. @ActionSportsJax pic.twitter.com/InORhN4S44

— Brent Martineau (@BrentASJax) December 1, 2024

After the game, Lawrence posted the following update on X: “Thank you to everyone who has reached out / been praying for me. I’m home and feeling better. Means a lot, thank you all🙌🏼”

Lawrence missed Jacksonville’s two games before their Week 12 bye with a shoulder injury. While surgery was on the table, the former No. 1 overall pick returned to limited practices ahead of Week 13 and started against the Texans on Sunday.

Backup quarterback Mac Jones threw for just 249 total yards, no touchdowns, and three interceptions in his two starts; both were Jacksonville losses. He ranked dead last in passing success rate (31%) and next-to-last in EPA per dropback (-0.30) from Weeks 10 to 11.

Jones was more productive against the Texans on Sunday, completing 20 of 32 attempts for 235 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.

What Is the Fencing Position?

The fencing posture is an involuntary response to a traumatic brain injury.

Usually accompanying a loss of consciousness, the fencing posture is when the concussed person’s hands and arms extend or flex in an unnatural position, lasting up to several seconds.

The NFL world became broadly aware of the posture after Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa seized up during a scary concussion he suffered in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals two years ago.

After demonstrating that response, Lawrence was automatically placed in the concussion protocol and will need to clear a five-stage process to return to play.

In each of the two times Tagovailoa had a fencing response to a concussion, he missed multiple games.