In a Monday Night Football matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars’ quarterback Trevor Lawrence exited the game in the fourth quarter after appearing to roll his right ankle. The incident unfolded during a crucial third-down play near the Bengals’ red zone when Lawrence’s right ankle was stepped on by tackle Walker Little. As Lawrence went to the ground, his leg twisted further, prompting visible frustration from the former Clemson quarterback.
When trainers finally went to Lawrence, he was assisted off the field after having been on it for a few seconds. Hurt Lawrence was replaced by C.J. Beathard, the backup quarterback for the Jaguars. The Jaguars lost 34-31 in overtime after Lawrence’s ankle injury was initially described as “questionable” to return. As a result, he did not reenter the contest.
Trevor Lawrence –
— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) December 5, 2023
Gets his right ankle stepped on then rolled, then further rolled over after the defender hits him.
I’d say main concern is an ankle sprain, but given how much pain he’s in (+ assistance from staff into locker room), possible concern for a fracture. pic.twitter.com/ZXSC8gSSk6
The injury occurred with approximately 6 minutes remaining in the game, as Lawrence’s right ankle was stepped on, and the subsequent tackle by Trey Hendrickson further twisted his leg. Lawrence sat on the field, visibly in pain, and slammed his hand on the turf. The quarterback attempted to leave the field on his own but collapsed in pain.
Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence slams the ground and his helmet after injuring his ankle getting it stepped on. He’s being helped off the field by 2 trainers. Entire stadium went silent. pic.twitter.com/tF9wTehhlu
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) December 5, 2023
Lawrence was seen being assisted off the field and into the locker room for an X-ray on subsequent video footage. Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reports that an ankle sprain is the first diagnosis. The Jaguars’ coach, Doug Pederson, said in his post-game remarks that an MRI and other testing are necessary to fully assess Lawrence’s condition.
The Jaguars and their fans await updates on Lawrence’s condition as the quarterback undergoes additional assessments. The severity of the injury and Lawrence’s timeline for return will likely shape the team’s strategy moving forward.
