There are very few quarterbacks who can suffer a high ankle sprain in a game and be ready to start the next week.
Then again, not many QBs are as durable as Jaguars star Trevor Lawrence.
Jacksonville's starting quarterback left last week's "Monday Night Football" contest against Cincinnati with a nasty ankle injury. Lawrence struggled to put any weight on the foot, and his status for Week 14 has been up in the air for most of the week.
The Jaguars enter Sunday at 8-4, sitting atop the AFC South, but with both the Colts and Texans breathing right down their neck. With just a game separating the division leader and its rivals, every result is crucial for Jacksonville down the stretch, especially in a very competitive AFC.
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Here is the latest on Lawrence's status for Sunday's game against the Browns:
Is Trevor Lawrence playing today vs. Browns?
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, it's official — Lawrence will start Sunday against the Browns.
Schefter had reported earlier that the Jaguars were "planning" for Lawrence to start Sunday's game against the Browns. However, there would be a final evaluation from the team during pregame warmups before making the final decision.
Lawrence was seen entering Cleveland Browns Stadium with a wrap/brace around the injured right ankle. He later took the field for warmups, testing out the ankle.
Trevor Lawrence just arrived … wrap or brace on right ankle pic.twitter.com/SRZ1x1oA2s
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) December 10, 2023
Trevor Lawrence looked good sprinting onto the field. Now he’s stretching out that ankle pic.twitter.com/CXtOqYukgs
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) December 10, 2023
As a result of the positive workout, Lawrence gets the starting nod. Backup QB C.J. Beathard will be his replacement if the injury flares up during the contest.
What is Trevor Lawrence's injury?
Lawrence suffered a high ankle sprain during the Jaguars' "Monday Night Football" loss to the Bengals in Week 13.
The Jacksonville quarterback was hurt during the fourth quarter after he was stepped on by his teammate, offensive lineman Walker Little. The ankle bent awkwardly while heading to the ground.
Jaguars’ QB Trevor Lawrence was helped to the locker room after injuring his ankle on this play: pic.twitter.com/P1uYmgth2w
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 5, 2023
Lawrence needed assistance leaving the field. He did not return to the game, as Beathard finished out the contest for the Jaguars.
Pederson said on Friday that Lawrence was "feeling good" and that he "moved around a little bit" at practice earlier in the week.
Has Trevor Lawrence ever missed a game?
With Lawrence cleared to start on Sunday, it will continue his ironman streak that dates all the way back to his high school days.
The best ability is availability, and Lawrence has it in doses. The towering quarterback has started in every game he's played in during his three seasons in the NFL, as Week 14 marks Lawrence's 47th consecutive NFL start.
It's not just in the pros, either. Lawrence never missed a game due to injury in high school or in college. He started all 15 games his freshman and sophomore seasons at Clemson, and then made 10 starts in the shortened 2020 season, missing two games after testing positive for COVID-19.
