Trevor Lawrence Injury: What We Know About His Place in Concussion Protocol

As Yogi Berra once said, it's déjà vu all over again.

During Week 13's game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence left the game with an ankle injury. There was a brief period of panic (and some jokes about the lack of carts to help him off the field), but the signal-caller recovered from his ankle sprain without missing a start.

And while he didn't leave the field prematurely during Week 15's Sunday Night Football defeat, Lawrence has apparently picked up another problem. After the game, we learned that he was entering concussion protocol, which opens up an entirely new set of questions.

So, with that in mind, let's explore what we do know about Lawrence's latest injury.

What Happened to Lawrence?

Part of the challenges with head injuries is that they're not immediately apparent. When Lawrence hurt his ankle, for example, everyone could see that something had gone wrong. On Sunday night, though, things were a bit more subtle.

In fact, the Jaguars quarterback never left the game. He had a tough night (25-of-43 passing for 264 yards, with one touchdown, while coughing up two fumbles) in defeat.

After the final whistle, however, we all learned that Lawrence had been injured at some point during the game.

Head coach Doug Pederson told reporters that his starting quarterback was placed in the NFL's concussion protocol. He also said that he suspected Lawrence got hurt during the fourth quarter.

The QB didn't speak to the media after the game.

When Can Lawrence Return From Concussion Protocol?

Remember how we said that part of the challenge with concussions is that they aren't as straightforward as a broken bone or a twisted ankle? Well, the same can be said for the recovery process.

In the NFL, concussion protocol involves passing through five steps. Things move sequentially, starting with gentle activity like stretching and progressing through more and more intense work. If the player doesn't have "an increase or aggravation of signs or symptoms" after the prescribed activities, he can advance to the next level. Also, an independent neurological consultant has to clear the player to officially return to the lineup.

And while that progression plan may make a return to the field seem simple—you simply check off all five steps on the list—things are a bit more ambiguous. Since each step is gated behind concussion symptoms, there isn't a defined timeline. You could breeze through or you could stay in the protocol for quite a while.

Consider, for example, two extremes of concussion protocol. In 2017, Davante Adams was injured during a Thursday night game and was cleared for the following Sunday. This year, though, Carolina Panthers tight end Hayden Hurst suffered a concussion in Week 10. While the hit didn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary, he's landed on injured reserve and won't play again this season.

That's all to say that Lawrence's immediate future is uncertain. You can't play through a head injury like you can with a tweaked ankle, and the concussion protocol doesn't place any time frame on a player's return.

The Jaguars' Backup QB Hasn't Changed

If there's a silver lining to Lawrence's recent ankle injury, it's that the Jaguars' offense (and the team's fans) is probably a bit more familiar with its contingency plans than it otherwise would have been.

C.J. Beathard is the club's backup quarterback. He was briefly pressed into action during Week 13's loss against the Bengals (he completed nine of 10 passes that night) but didn't take the field after that emergency appearance.

Should he have to start in Week 16 (December 24 at Tampa Bay), though, the Iowa product won't be awed by the occasion. While he isn't a household name, he's in his sixth NFL season and has 12 starts to his name. And, with Lawrence having to work through concussion protocol, Beathard will probably handle most of the snaps during this week's practices.

After Week 13, Pederson also made a point to highlight his backup's experience.

"We'll see where Trevor's at first, but we've got 100 percent confidence in C.J.," Pederson said. "He's a veteran player. He's played a lot of football, and if he happens to be the guy then we'll get behind him and support him."

Jacksonville's Playoff Spot Seems Precarious

Playing without your starting quarterback is never ideal. Being without your first-choice signal-caller with playoff position on the line, however, is a nightmare.

And, if Lawrence is absent, that latter scenario is where the Jaguars will find themselves.

Jacksonville is sitting in the fourth spot in the AFC standings by virtue of leading its division. That said, though, the Jaguars' 8-6 record is only ahead of the Colts and Texas (both 8-6) on tiebreakers.

That sets up a scary scenario for the Florida squad, especially if they have to proceed without Lawrence. But the schedule does offer a silver lining.

Jacksonville has three relatively easy games in the cards, with a trip to Tampa Bay followed by a visit from the Carolina Panthers and a Week 18 date with the Tennessee Titans. While anything can happen in the NFL, especially with a backup QB potentially under center, those represent largely winnable contests. And, if you prefer a numerical perspective, The New York Times' Upshot model gives the Jaguars a 95 percent chance of making the playoffs if they lose to Tampa and then win the following two games.

Elsewhere in the division, the Texans still have to face the Brown. Indy and Houston will face each other in Week 18, meaning that at least one of those teams will have to fail to win.

Granted, we're now talking about multiple layers of uncertainty. When will Lawrence be able to play? And, if not, when will he return?

Can the Jaguars snap their losing streak, whether it's with their starter or not? Will other results go the right way and give Jacksonville a bit of a break?

At this point, we'll just have to wait and see. That's the beauty (or terrible part) of sports.