Credit: Corey Perrine / USA TODAY NETWORK
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is starting the week in concussion protocol and his status for Jacksonville’s Christmas Eve trip to Tampa Bay to face the Buccaneers is uncertain.
Lawrence suffered the concussion on the Jaguars’ last possession of Sunday’s 23-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, head coach Doug Pederson said. Lawrence finished the game.
Lawrence fumbled twice in the defeat and finished with 264 passing yards and a touchdown pass.
Players in the concussion protocol have to be cleared by an independent neurologist before they can play, and those final approval steps include a limited participation day of practice on the field.
Jacksonville is one of three AFC South teams with an 8-6 record along with the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans.
The Texans won Sunday without sensational rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, who was in concussion protocol.
Lawrence made a surprisingly swift recovery from a high-ankle sprain suffered in the Dec. 4 loss to Cincinnati and was cleared to play in each of the past two games, but the Jaguars have now lost three consecutive games — all to AFC North foes, the Bengals, Browns and Ravens.
C.J. Beathard, who replaced Lawrence in the Dec. 4 game, is 2-10 as a starter. He would likely get the call to face the Buccaneers if Lawrence isn’t cleared.
The Jaguars close the season with a home game against the Carolina Panthers (2-12) in Week 17 and spend the final weekend of the regular season in Nashville, facing the Titans (5-9). Jacksonville defeated Tennessee 34-14 on Nov. 19.
–Field Level Media