Jaguars announce QB Trevor Lawrence will start just six days after high-ankle sprain
Lawrence has reportedly never missed a start at the high school, NCAA or NFL level
The Jacksonville Jaguars won't have to start their backup quarterback against the Cleveland Browns after all.
The Jaguars announced about 90 minutes before game time that Trevor Lawrence will start, just one week after sustaining a high-ankle sprain that knocked him out of last week's game. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported earlier that the Jags were planning for Lawrence to start, but he had to be evaluated by the coaches and training staff during warmups before the final decision was made.
Things seemed to be headed in a positive direction when Lawrence arrived at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Sunday. He was seen wearing a wrap or brace on his ankle and appeared to be walking normally.
Trevor Lawrence is in the building. He arrived wearing some type of sock/sleeve over that injured right ankle. #duuuval #nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/uM1Kesyp2S
— Sara Walsh (@Sara_Walsh) December 10, 2023
Lawrence left the Jags' Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth quarter. Following the game, a 34-31 overtime loss, Lawrence was limping around the locker room with the help of Jaguars staffers.
A high-ankle sprain isn't typically a fast-healing injury, and can cost athletes multiple weeks. But with Lawrence, his forecast got better and better as the week went on. Near the end of the week he wasn't even wearing a brace on his ankle, it was simply wrapped in a bandage. And while the Jaguars were cautious in their messaging about his injury, there was also optimism that this wouldn't hold him back.
Lawrence doesn't have magical healing powers (that we know of), but his history as a starting quarterback might lead you to believe otherwise. According to Schefter, Lawrence has never missed a game due to injury. Not in high school, not in college, and not as a professional. In Week 7, just two months ago, he showed that he's able to play and win despite injury when he led the Jags to a victory over the New Orleans Saints just five days after suffering a knee injury.
Schefter reported that the Jaguars "believe Lawrence is physically and mentally strong enough to overcome the odds and make it back quickly from his ankle injury," even though he was very limited in practice this week. But if anything happens during the game, Jags have backup C.J. Beathard ready to start.