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Michael DiRocco, ESPN staff writer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence sprained his right ankle during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night but escaped further damage, coach Doug Pederson said Tuesday.
Pederson said the Jaguars will evaluate Lawrence later in the week, and he did not completely rule out the possibility of Lawrence playing on Sunday.
“I’m not going to put that timeline on Trevor,” Pederson said Tuesday afternoon. “I wouldn’t put him in a box like this, but we’ll see how he does in a couple of days.”
Pederson said he doesn’t think Lawrence will need surgery on his ankle, which Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett had earlier this week to speed up the healing process.
“I haven’t had discussions with the docs about that,” Pederson said. “I don “t think so [surgery] It is a necessary method at this stage. “Due to where it is located in the ankle, surgery is not necessary at this time.”
However, the news is not good for receiver Christian Kirk, who suffered a core muscle injury early in Monday’s overtime loss to the Bengals that Pederson said may require surgery.
Lawrence was injured late in the fourth quarter when Walker Little was pushed back and stepped on Lawrence’s ankle, which then appeared to fall under him as he fell to the ground. Lawrence tried to get up, then knelt down and slammed his helmet on the ground in frustration.
Lawrence was assisted from the field by medical personnel and needed support from a person under each arm as he walked down the tunnel toward the Jaguars’ locker room and X-ray area. He left the field in a walking boot and uses crutches.
Lawrence threw for 258 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another score against the Bengals before being injured. He was replaced by CJ Beathard, who completed 9 of 10 passes for 63 yards. Lawrence’s 1-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter made him the first player in franchise history to have two passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown in three straight games.
Beathard, 2-10 as a starter in his career, will start in Cleveland on Sunday if Lawrence does not play. Pederson said the team has not yet held discussions about bringing any other midfielder to training this week.
Twice before, Lawrence appeared to suffer serious injuries but returned to play almost immediately. He suffered a left knee sprain late in the Jaguars’ win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 3, but did not miss the start and led the Jaguars to a win over the New Orleans Saints four days later on Thursday night.
He suffered a toe injury against the Detroit Lions last season but returned in the second half and played the rest of the game. He wore a protective device in his shoe and never missed a start after that, leading the Jaguars on a five-game winning streak to win the AFC South and a wild-card round victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Lawrence has started all 46 potential games since being drafted No. 1 in 2021, and is tied for the third-longest active starting streak among quarterbacks, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Josh Allen (83) and Justin Herbert (61) have the two longest streaks while Lawrence is tied with Patrick Mahomes.
Kirk is the Jaguars’ yardage leader (787 yards) and was on pace to become the third player in franchise history to record multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons. His 57 catches are second on the team behind Evan Engram (73).
Rookie Parker Washington will handle much of Kirk’s duties in the slot. He had six catches for 61 yards and a touchdown after Kirk was hit on the Jaguars’ first offensive snap, but he also ran an incorrect route on the play on which Lawrence was injured.
Lawrence wanted a quick throw to Washington, who had free release off the line of scrimmage and space around him. But Washington kept running down the field instead of cutting in or out and Lawrence pulled the ball downfield, and that’s when Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson drove Little to Lawrence.
Little also suffered a left hamstring strain in the game and his condition Sunday is questionable, so it’s possible the Jaguars will face the league’s top-ranked total defense without three crucial offensive players.
