Jacksonville Jaguars Quarterback Trevor Lawrence Suffers Head Injury

The Jacksonville Jaguars endured a 23-7 trouncing at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens last night, but the loss could be the least of their problems. Following Sunday Night Football, head coach Doug Pederson revealed that quarterback Trevor Lawrence has been placed in concussion protocol due to a hit he sustained in the fourth quarter.

#Jaguars coach Doug Pederson announced late last night that QB Trevor Lawrence will enter the NFL’s concussion protocol after a hit he sustained in the fourth quarter. That could mean CJ Beathard next week against the #Bucs.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 18, 2023

Lawrence played 100% of the offensive snaps against the Ravens but struggled for much of the night. He lost two fumbles and averaged a mere 5.9 net yards per passing attempt. Most of his errors came well before the supposed time of the injury.

At 8-6, the Jaguars remain in a tightly contested race for the AFC South: only tiebreakers separate them from the 8-6 Houston Texans. The Jaguars face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16; even a single-game absence from Lawrence could cost them the division. His 251.8 passing yards per game are the primary reason the Jaguars have scored 22.8 points per game, the 10th most in the league through 15 weeks.

Lawrence has yet to miss a start since entering the league as the first-overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, so there's a strong chance he can get clearance, even on a truncated timeline. Otherwise, the Jaguars will turn to C.J. Beathard. The former San Francisco 49er hasn't made a start since 2020, but he's been competent in his limited opportunities, averaging 5.97 net yards per attempt and posting a 99.2 passer rating over his last 17 appearances.