Can Trevor Lawrence make a remarkable turnaround time from high right ankle sprain in time for the Browns game on Sunday?
Stranger things have happened.
Jaguars coach Doug Peterson didn’t rule Lawrence out on Tuesday, stating in his press conference that “everything is stable. Everything looks good and we’ll see where he is in a couple of days.”
There is precedence this season for players returning quicker than expected from injuries. Browns running back Jerome Ford suffered a low-grade high ankle sprain against the Colts that was originally believed to sideline for about two games. But he returned the following week against the Seahawks, rushing for 37 yards on nine carries.
Myles Garrett made a remarkable turnaround from a shoulder injury suffered during the loss to the Broncos two weeks ago, facing the Rams without restrictions after not being able to lift his arm the week before. Aaron Rodgers is trying to make an unprecedented comeback from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Based on the gruesome nature of Lawrence’s injury, it’s hard to imagine him playing six days later. But with today’s advance healing modalities, including lasers, red light therapy and cryo treatments, players are getting back quicker than in the past. Besides, Lawrence has never missed an NFL game, and the Jaguars are gunning for the top season in the AFC.
“It looked worse than what it was,” Pederson said.
Of course, it would be an enormous break for the 7-5 Browns if they didn’t have to face one of the hottest quarterbacks in the NFL for the third straight week. They lost to Russell Wilson in Denver and Matt Stafford in L.A., and are gearing up for a better defensive performance against the formidable Lawrence, who climbed to No. 12 in the NFL with a 94.4 passer rating after a stellar Monday Night game.
Lawrence suffered the injury with 5:25 left in regulation of Monday night’s 34-31 overtime loss to the Bengals with the score tied 28-28. Veteran C.J Beathard replaced him, and the Jaguars, who had a chance to take over the No. 1 seed in the conference at 9-3 with a victory, slipped to 8-4.
Lawrence’s left tackle, Walker Little, got pushed backward and stepped on his ankle, which got caught underneath him and bent back awkwardly as he spilled to the ground. When he tried to get up, he fell to his knees and punched the turf, then slammed his helmet down.
In obvious horrible pain as he hobbled up the tunnel, Lawrence was off to another great start, going 22 of 29 for 259 yards and two TDs en route to a 125.4 rating. He also rushed for a touchdown. He’s thrown for 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions this season, and his 67.9 completion percentage is seventh in the NFL.
But the Browns certainly won’t feel sorry for the Jaguars if they have to start Beathard.
They were down to their fourth quarterback of the season Sunday against the Rams in Joe Flacco, who gave a valiant effort, but threw a costly pick in the 36-19 that dropped the Browns to 7-5. In his first game since the season finale with the Jets last year, he went 23 of 44 for 254 yards with two TDs and 1 INT for a 75.4 rating.
Kevin Stefanski hasn’t yet named Flacco his starter for the Jaguars game, but it’s trending that way with Dorian Thompson-Robinson still in the concussion protocol.
Beathard would be one of a number of backup quarterbacks the Browns have faced or will face this season, including Gardner Minshew instead of Anthony Richardson, Clayton Tune instead of Kyler Murray, an unnamed Jets QB instead of Aaron Rodgers, and Jake Browning instead of Joe Burrow in the season finale in Cincinnati.
But Browning might not be as much of a break as originally thought. In Monday night’s victory, he went 32 of 37 for 354 yards with a TD for a 115.5 rating. He also rushed for a TD.
In addition to Lawrence, the Jaguars also lost receiver Christian Kirk to a core muscle injury early in the Bengals game, and Pederson said he’s expected to need surgery. Kirk leads the Jaguars with 787 receiving yards, and has 57 catches and three TDs.
The Browns might also be without their leading receiver in Amari Cooper, who suffered a concussion against the Rams and is in the protocol.
