JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence wished to make one thing completely clear: The crew did have a cart accessible to take him off the sector after he injured his proper ankle in opposition to Cincinnati on Monday night time.
He simply did not need to use it.
Lawrence stated Wednesday he was fairly near the tunnel entrance and felt like it will be faster for him to stroll with some assist to the EverBank Stadium locker room and X-ray facility than to attend for the cart to maneuver its means by way of the additional tools to get to him. So that is what he did — although he did admit he might have had some remorse.
“We talked about getting a cart and I used to be going to get a cart, after which I am standing there and I am already on the sideline at that time, the tunnel’s proper there, I simply wished to get off the sector, get out of there,” Lawrence stated. “I did not know what was happening with my ankle and I felt like I may get off [the field]. I used to be like, ‘Hey, you are good. Simply do not carry it out. I am getting into.’
“After which as soon as I bought in there [the hallway], I am like, ‘This can be a fairly lengthy stroll.’ They requested once more if I wished a cart. I am like, ‘No, we will make it the entire means there.'”
The tv footage of Lawrence, with folks below every arm helping him, strolling within the tunnel and hallway of EverBank Stadium has drawn criticism on social media, tv and radio. Jaguars punter Logan Cooke defended the crew on social media by going after one of many extra notable critics.
Lawrence discovered it ludicrous that folks would truly assume the Jaguars would not have a cart accessible for an injured participant.
“We now have all the things we’d like, and I used to be the one which that did not select to take [a cart] so that you guys put that on me,” he stated. “Perhaps that was dumb. Perhaps I ought to have taken one, but it surely’s nothing to do with us not having a cart accessible. I do not assume that may occur within the Nationwide Soccer League, particularly right here with the crew that now we have.”
Lawrence stated Wednesday his proper ankle feels a lot better than he anticipated it will two days after struggling a excessive ankle sprain. The damage occured when left sort out Walker Little stepped on Lawrence’s foot and the quarterback had it get caught beneath him when he fell.
He is proud of the way in which his rehab has gone to date and is hopeful that continues, and that he can get cleared to play on the Browns on Sunday.
“I am actually simply taking it sooner or later at a time,” Lawrence stated. “I am making an attempt to do as a lot as I can every day with out aggravating it or making something worse however making an attempt to progress in the direction of hopefully taking part in. And for the previous 48 hours there have been some huge steps and I am actually proud of the way it’s therapeutic up.
“So, we’ll see. You realize, I clearly cannot give any solutions proper now and simply going to take my time and do all the things proper.”
There’s precedent to returning one week after struggling a excessive ankle sprain. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes began the 2022 AFC Championship Recreation in opposition to the Bengals eight days after he suffered that damage in opposition to the Jaguars in a divisional playoff sport. He was in a position to follow totally the Thursday earlier than the Bengals sport, and Chiefs coach Andy Reid introduced Friday of sport week Mahomes would begin.
Mahomes went 29-for-43 for 326 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions within the Chiefs’ 23-20 victory.
It’s kind of of a unique state of affairs for Lawrence as a result of the Jaguars will not have their finest pass-catcher (receiver Christian Kirk is out with a groin damage) and likewise may very well be beginning their third left sort out if Little (hamstring) is unable to play.
“I do not need to evaluate two accidents,” coach Doug Pederson stated. “Two totally different folks [and] the circumstance of taking part in in a convention championship sport versus an everyday season sport are two various things. However clearly they felt — they being the Chiefs — like he was good. He could not harm himself additional and clearly he performed. That is the case right here. We need to be sure that earlier than we put him on the sector that as this week goes that he is able to not reinjuring himself.”
Pederson stated Lawrence will not play except there isn’t any likelihood he may do any additional injury to his proper ankle. Being in a decent division race — the Jaguars (8-4) have a one-game lead over the Texans and Colts — and preventing for playoff seeding can have no bearing on that call, both.
“It is our job to guard these gamers and ensure [putting them back on the field] is just not at the price of successful a soccer sport,” Pederson stated. “And sure, we’re on this final form of month of the yr the place we’re making our run, however we additionally know, too, that if Trevor cannot play on this sport, there’s going to return a time sooner or later the place he’s.
“We have all bought to return collectively to sort of climate this storm slightly bit in order that when if there is a time when he does return that we make that push with him.”
Backup quarterback C.J. Beathard, who would begin in opposition to the Browns if Lawrence is unable to play, was restricted in follow Wednesday due to an damage to his left (non-throwing shoulder). He stated he harm it when he fell on it after a scramble on his first play after he entered Monday’s sport.
