Skip to main content
Cloudy icon
55º

‘Home and feeling better’: Trevor Lawrence thanks community after concussion against Texans

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.

“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.

RELATED: Reeling Jaguars lose Trevor Lawrence, 10th game of season as spiral continues | ‘This is one of the dirtiest hits I’ve ever seen on a QB’: Intense reaction to hit on Trevor Lawrence

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.

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.

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.


About the Authors
Justin Barney headshot

Justin Barney joined News4Jax in February 2019, but he’s been covering sports on the First Coast for more than 20 years.

Briana Brownlee headshot

Briana Brownlee is excited to call Jacksonville home and join the News4JAX team. She joins us from Southwest Florida, where she reported at Fox 4 News in Fort Myers. Before making it to the Sunshine state, she got her start in Rapid City South Dakota as the morning reporter and later transitioned into the weekend Sports Anchor.

Loading...