Quarterback Trevor Lawrence (number 16) of the Jacksonville Jaguars tackled by Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike during the second half of an NFL football game on Sunday, December 17, 2023, in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo Credit: Phelan M. Ebenhack - freelancer, ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Following their 23-7 defeat to the Baltimore Ravens at EverBank Stadium on Sunday night, the Jacksonville Jaguars placed quarterback Trevor Lawrence into the concussion protocol.
Implications of Lawrence’s Absence
Head Coach Doug Pederson revealed that Lawrence sustained the injury during one of his three scrambles on the Jaguars’ final possession. However, it remains uncertain which specific play led to the injury. Lawrence’s status for the upcoming critical game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday is now uncertain, as the Jaguars, Houston Texans, and Indianapolis Colts share a tie at the top of the AFC South with 8-6 records.
Since his selection as the first overall draft pick in 2021, Lawrence has consistently started every game, boasting an impressive streak of 48 consecutive starts. If Lawrence is unable to play against the Buccaneers, C.J. Beathard is expected to take his place. The Jaguars made the decision to release their third quarterback, Nathan Rourke, on Saturday, and there are plans to consider re-signing him early this week.
Lawrence’s Performance Against Ravens
Lawrence delivered a solid performance against the Ravens, completing 25 of 43 passes for 264 yards and a touchdown. However, the game faced challenges as Lawrence lost two fumbles, giving the Ravens 10 points, and allowed the clock to run out at the end of the first half with the Jaguars inside the Baltimore 5-yard line.
Critical Moments in the Ravens Game
In a critical moment at the 5-yard line, Lawrence’s 36-yard completion to receiver Zay Jones should have led to a play instead of spiking the ball to stop the clock, according to Pederson. However, a quick pass to receiver Parker Washington resulted in a tackle by Ravens safety Marcus Williams, running out the clock before the Jaguars could line up for another play.
Coaching Perspective on Lawrence’s Mistakes
“We’re going to stay aggressive,” Pederson said. “We’ve scored before in those situations. It was just a mistake by Trevor, obviously knowing the situation and knowing how much time is left right there. It’s a great learning experience for us from the standpoint of don’t throw it inbounds to be tackled in that situation.
“We’ll learn from that one, but just another great opportunity for us to try to get in the end zone.”
When questioned about whether Lawrence should have moved beyond making such mistakes in his third season, Pederson responded, “You can put it on us, too. Put it on us as coaches. Coach that situation a little bit better.”
If the Jaguars had managed to kick a field goal, they would have trailed the Ravens 10-3 at halftime. However, they missed the opportunity, despite having four drives inside the opponents’ 40-yard line.
First-Half Struggles for the Jaguars
In the first half, kicker Brandon McManus added challenges for the Jaguars as he missed a 50-yard field goal attempt, hitting the right upright, and pulled a 55-yard attempt wide left.
Lawrence’s initial fumble occurred when he unexpectedly dropped the ball during a scramble at the Baltimore 20, leading to the Ravens’ sole touchdown of the half.
During the third quarter, Lawrence fumbled for the second time as defensive tackle Justin Madubuike sacked him at the Jaguars’ 19-yard line. Subsequently, Justin Tucker kicked a 34-yard field goal to the Ravens ahead 23-7.
This report used information from ESPN.
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