As the anticipation surrounding Trevor Lawrence‘s ascension to the starting role for the Jacksonville Jaguars this season was palpable, the starter tightly held the reins with eight wins, and the star quarterback encountered a setback. Unfortunately, a lower right leg/ankle injury during their Week 13 game against the Cincinnati Bengals forced Lawrence out of action, resulting in the Jaguars’ fourth loss of the season.
Despite the narrow 31-34 defeat to the Bengals, the disheartenment among Jacksonville team fans seemed to stem more from the perceived lack of support for their starter in the face of the gruesome injury.
Fans express frustration over Trevor Lawrence’s painful walk to the locker room
Left tackle Walker Little unintentionally stomped on Trevor Lawrence’s right leg and ankle as he dropped back for a throw on third-and-10 on a pivotal play in the fourth quarter. The unfortunate play led to a sack, causing Lawrence’s right knee to twist awkwardly beneath him.
Struggling to walk off the field independently, Lawrence eventually required assistance from Jaguars staff members to make his way into the locker room. It was evident that he faced difficulty putting weight on his right leg, per CBS Sports.
As the crowd at EverBank Stadium expressed their concern for the star quarterback, a similar reaction was observed in the digital realm. Netizens united to express their collective disappointment over what they perceived as the team’s indifference towards their injured player.
“Why is he not on a cart?” one fan showed his disgust at the comment.
It seems the NFL teams are getting less concerned with their player’s health, as we saw in the last game when the New Orleans Saints allowed Derek Carr to take his spot in spite of suffering a concussion just weeks ago. What happened then? Carr again sustained a concussion for the second time within a month.
In this case, the scenario became worse as the Bengals could not manage a cart for their wounded player, who fell heavily on the ground.
One fan raised the question of whether the Jaguars could not even afford a dolly or a rolling desk chair to support their player.
Trevor Lawrence later underwent X-rays, and it was announced that he was questionable to return with an ankle injury. Some fans even fear whether he can take his backup spot again, as they are assuming his injury is a season-ending one after seeing his suffering while walking.
Lawrence’s ankle injury raises alarm for Jaguars
In his second season as the Jaguars’ starting quarterback, Trevor Lawrence seamlessly transitioned into the perfect starter for the Jaguars. Prior to his exit from the game due to injury, Lawrence showcased his prowess, completing 22 of 29 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns.
Remarkably, he also contributed 240 yards rushing with three scores on the ground, setting the stage for a memorable night before Monday’s game.
He boasted impressive season stats, entering the game with 2,746 yards passing, 12 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a 92.0 passer rating.
Certainly, Trevor Lawrence stood out as a dominating factor for the Jaguars, propelling them to an impressive 8-3 record as the season commenced. However, if fans’ assumptions about his injury being season-ending prove accurate, it could spell significant adversity for the team. The Jaguars had set their sights on securing the coveted No. 1 playoff spot in the AFC with a crucial victory.
The potential loss of their promising starter, even for a single match, could turn into a haunting scenario, disrupting their pursuit of playoff success and leaving the team and its supporters grappling with the unforeseen challenge for the rest of the season without their influential quarterback.
