JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Trevor Lawrence thanked the community for their support after a concussion forced him out of action Sunday during the game against the Houston Texans.
The hit that knocked Lawrence from Sunday’s game earned Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair an ejection, and most experts are expecting him to earn a fine and possibly a suspension.
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“It’s a play that no one wants to see. I have a lot of respect for Coach Ryans. We don’t coach our team that way and it’s unfortunate... It’s just an unfortunate play,” Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said.
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Lawrence was returning after missing losses to the Vikings and Lions with an injury to his left shoulder. The offense had struggled early against Houston but Lawrence had just ripped off a 6-yard run to the Texans side of the field when another injury struck.
Following Sunday’s hit, Lawrence laid on the turf for several seconds, and he didn’t return to the game.
Jaguars players immediately swarmed Al-Shaair and a melee ensued between the teams that took several minutes to cool down. Al-Shaair was ejected as well as Jacksonville’s Jarrian Jones.
Watch Trevor Lawrence immediately after this horrific hit. His right arm suddenly flexes as his left arm simultaneously extends. This is known as the “fencing posture”—an involuntary reflex that occurs after impact in blunt head trauma. It signifies a traumatic brain injury with… pic.twitter.com/Saa8j8cffJ
— Sam Ghali, M.D. (@EM_RESUS) December 1, 2024
The hit that knocked Lawrence from Sunday’s game drew quite a reaction among social media users.
“Al-Shaair should be suspended for a full season and fined. The hit was uncalled for,” a fan commented on Facebook.
On Sunday night, Lawrence posted a message on X to thank the community for their support.
Thank you to everyone who has reached out / been praying for me. I’m home and feeling better. Means a lot, thank you all🙌🏼
— Trevor Lawrence (@Trevorlawrencee) December 2, 2024
This is Lawrence’s second concussion in more than a year.
He also suffered a concussion in a Week 15 loss to Baltimore last season, on Dec. 17.
For Lawrence to return to the field, the team must follow the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Once a concussion diagnosis is given, the team must follow the five-step protocol, and be cleared by an independent physician approved by the NFL and National Football League Players Association.
The process involves limited activity, aerobic exercise, football-specific exercise, and club-based non-contact training drills.
Board Certified Neurosurgeon Daniel Ikeda joined News4JAX Anchor Bruce Hamilton on The Morning Show to discuss how doctors evaluate the severity of concussions. They also talked about the NFL concussion protocol, and he offered advice for parents who have children who play sports, like football, and worry about their children being exposed to head injuries.
During his postgame press conference, Pederson was asked if he gave any consideration to shutting down Lawrence for the season because of his shoulder injury and concussion. He said it was too soon after the game to think about that.
