Trevor Lawrence has overcome a major hurdle as he looks to play in tomorrow’s matchup against the Buccaneers. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Jaguars quarterback has cleared concussion protocol and will travel will the team to Tampa. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo is a bit more pointed in his report, definitively stating that the Jaguars will “get their franchise QB back” for tomorrow’s game.

Lawrence suffered the concussion last weekend but finished the eventual loss to the Ravens. He reported concussion symptoms after the game, landing him in concussion protocol. The QB returned to practice yesterday but his status for Sunday was still unknown. Coach Doug Pederson told reporters that Lawrence wouldn’t start if he couldn’t clear concussion protocols by this morning, and it was believed the quarterback’s status was truly 50/50. If Lawrence didn’t play, backup C.J. Beathard would have earned his first start of the season.

“Most guys, if you don’t clear, usually by Friday, then you can’t risk putting a guy on the field this close to game time,” Pederson said yesterday (via ESPN’s Michael DiRocco). “That’s any player, so just take the position out of it. But he is trending in the right direction, and then hopefully things go well today.”

The Jaguars can now count on the former first-overall pick to be under center in a crucial matchup. Lawrence has battled through both knee and ankle issues this season, but he’s still managed to start every game for the Jaguars. The quarterback has helped guide his squad to an 8-6 record while completing 65.9 percent of his passes for 3,525 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.

Lawrence hasn’t missed a game during his three years in the NFL, and he’ll now be able to extend his streak to 49 games. That’s the second-longest active streak among quarterbacks, tied with Patrick Mahomes and trailing Josh Allen (85).

Once again, Trevor Lawrence‘s health is a question mark in advance of Jacksonville’s next game. The team’s franchise passer is in concussion protocol, head coach Doug Pederson said after Sunday’s loss.

Pederson added (via ESPN’s Michael DiRocco) Lawrence is believed to have suffered the head injury during one of three scrambles on Jacksonville’s final drive against the Ravens. Now, attention will turn to his ability to clear the league’s protocol within a one-week timeframe, something which does not happen often. In the event he does miss the Jaguars’ upcoming game against the Buccaneers, it will be Lawrence’s first absence in his NFL career.

The 2021 No. 1 pick has dealt with knee and, more recently, ankle injuries this season. Lawrence managed to play in Week 14 despite suffering a high ankle sprain which forced him to leave the game the week prior, and Sunday’s contest marked his healthiest point of the season in some time from a mobility standpoint. Now, however, Jacksonville faces the distinct possibility of relying on backup C.J. Beathard in a crucial late-season matchup.

Having lost three straight, the Jaguars find themselves in a three-way tie atop the AFC South. The Colts and Texans both won in Week 15, bringing their records to 8-6. After once appearing to be a lock to win the division, therefore, there is still plenty at stake to close out the season for Jacksonville. Beathard has made five appearances this season and 11 in total in his three years in Duval County,

The 30-year-old has not started a game since 2020, however, and he has attempted just 27 passes in that span. Beathard completed nine of 10 passes for 63 scoreless yards while also fumbling in relief of Lawrence during the Jags’ overtime loss to the Bengals. He will look to improve on that outing if he does indeed get the nod in Week 16. Third-stringer Nathan Rourke – who was waived over the weekend but could be retained on the practice squad – would be in line to serve as the backup in the event Lawrence were unable to clear concussion protocol over the next several days.

DECEMBER 6: It probably goes without saying that Lawrence will need to show significant improvement to play in Week 14, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport detailed during a Good Morning Football appearance this sprain has affected the ligament connecting the tibia to the fibula. The third-year QB faces an uphill battle to be ready for the Jaguars-Browns matchup, though it still represents good news for the Jags that Lawrence playing Sunday is even a consideration after the scene Monday.

DECEMBER 5: The Jaguars suffered an upset loss Monday night, but the key takeaway from the game was the injury suffered by quarterback Trevor Lawrence. He was forced to leave the contest and did not return, leading to questions about the length of time he will miss as a result.

Lawrence is believed to have suffered a high ankle sprain, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. His colleague Cameron Wolfe adds the former No. 1 pick was using crutches and a walking boot as he exited the stadium after the game.

A Tuesday MRI does not appear to have produced a diagnosis that would threaten Lawrence’s season, with The Athletic’s Jeff Howe indicating the third-year QB will attempt an aggressive rehab program with the intent of playing in Week 14 against the Browns. Though, it is still too early to know if the Jags will have their starter back so soon after he limped off the field Monday night.

Lawrence could still be in line to miss at least some time, something which would deal a major blow to Jacksonville’s offense and the team’s bid to maintain its lead atop the AFC South. Monday’s loss dropped the Jaguars to 8-4, just one game ahead of the Texans and Colts. Lawrence has yet to miss a start in his NFL career.

The 24-year-old endured a forgettable rookie season during Urban Meyer‘s brief time as the Jaguars’ head coach, but he took a step forward last season while leading the team to the divisional round of the postseason. Expectations were high entering 2023, the second year with Doug Pederson at the helm. Lawrence and the offense have shown flashes during the campaign, but overall the unit has put up middling numbers in a number of categories. Lawrence has thrown no more than two touchdowns in any contest this season, surpassing 275 passing yards four times so far.

Still, the Clemson alum remains the focal point of an offense which has not managed to run the ball consistently. Jacksonville sits 22nd in the NFL with an average of 103 yards per game on the ground, so leaning increasingly on Travis Etienne may not produce an effective counterbalance to Lawrence missing time. Provided the latter is sidelined for any of the Jaguars’ remaining contests, veteran C.J. Beathard will likely be relied upon under center.

Beathard finished yesterday’s game, his 11th total appearance with Jacksonville dating back to 2021. The 30-year-old has not started a game since the end of his 49ers tenure in 2020, however. When speaking after the game, Pederson admitted a timeline for Lawrence’s absence is currently unknown while expressing support for Beathard (via ESPN’s Michael DiRocco) if he is thrust into a starting role down the stretch. Jacksonville also has Nathan Rourke – who joined the team this offseason after an impressive stint in the CFL which drew the attention of several interested teams – available on the QB depth chart.

The Jaguars finished the 2022 season strong, taking a significant step forward and advancing to the divisional round of the playoffs. Much of their success came about, of course, from the play of quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The second-year passer is set for a continued large role in the team in an off-field capacity.

Lawrence will have a say in some of Jacksonville’s offseason moves, as detailed by Demetrius Harvey of the Florida Times-Union, including the upcoming free agent period. The Jaguars obviously made him the centerpiece of the organization by selecting him first overall in the 2021 draft, but his ascension this season under head coach Doug Pederson showed how vital he can be to their long-term success.

Lawrence is certainly not alone in terms of being given input on organizational decisions, especially in recent years. The news is still noteworthy, though, given how much more challenging Jacksonville’s offseason figures to be this spring. The rebuilding outfit had plenty of money to spend on the open market in 2022, and used it to add significant pieces on both sides of the ball. Their numerous additions in March, along with a rookie class led by another No. 1 pick, helped lead the team to an AFC South title.

Now, however, the Jaguars find themselves with cost-cutting to do to become cap compliant in the coming weeks. A few key pending free agents, including tight end Evan Engram and right tackle Jawaan Taylor, figure to be among the team’s top priorities. Mutual interest appears to exist in both player’s cases with respect to working out new deals to keep them in Duval County.

“You want to keep guys like that that really have set the standard for the organization and have been a part of what you’re building here,” Lawrence said, via Harvey, on the subject of Engram and Taylor’s free agent status. “I think moving forward, that’s one of the things you have to look at in the guys you want to have.”

Lawrence himself will not be eligible for an extension until next offseason, but he will spend the coming days and weeks playing a role in the Jaguars’ free agent planning. The decisions the team makes on that front will go a long way in determining their ability to repeat 2022’s success.