The Jacksonville Jaguars have placed quarterback Trevor Lawrence on injured reserve following a concussion he sustained during their Week 13 loss to the Houston Texans. The injury occurred in the first half of Sunday’s game when Lawrence, while scrambling to his left and attempting to slide, was hit in the head by Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. The hit, which involved Al-Shaair extending his forearm into Lawrence’s head, was deemed illegal. Lawrence displayed immediate signs of a concussion, including entering the fencing position, and had to be taken off the field on a golf cart.
The incident led to significant repercussions on the field. Al-Shaair was penalized and ejected from the game. However, the situation escalated when multiple Jaguars players came to Lawrence’s defense, resulting in an on-field altercation. Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones was also ejected during the fracas.
Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair Targeted by Jaguars Fans
In the aftermath, Al-Shaair has been suspended for three games by the NFL. Jon Runyan, the NFL’s vice president of football operations, called the hit “unacceptable and a serious violation of the playing rules,” highlighting the league’s commitment to player safety.
Lawrence’s injury raises questions about Jaguars’ future
Lawrence’s placement on injured reserve means he will miss at least four games. With only five games remaining in the season and the Jaguars struggling at 2-10, it appears unlikely that Lawrence will return this year. The team has little incentive to rush him back, especially given their standing in the AFC South. This marks another setback in what has been a challenging season for Lawrence, who also missed two games earlier in the year due to a left shoulder injury. Over 10 games, he completed 60.6% of his passes for 2,045 yards, 11 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
In Lawrence’s absence, former first-round pick Mac Jones stepped in as quarterback during Sunday’s game. Jones performed admirably under the circumstances, completing 20 of 32 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns, though the Jaguars ultimately fell short. Moving forward, Jones is expected to take over starting duties for the remainder of the season.
The Jaguars will now have to navigate the rest of their schedule without their franchise quarterback, while Lawrence focuses on his recovery. As the team looks ahead, they will likely lean heavily on Jones and other key players to finish out what has been a difficult season.
