The Jaguars’ excitement about Trevor Lawrence’s return was short-lived Sunday.
Lawrence, who missed Jacksonville’s Week 10 and 11 games due to a shoulder injury, returned to action against Houston following his team’s Week 12 bye. But the 2021 No. 1 overall pick didn’t even make it a full half before he was forced back out of action.
With a little over four minutes left in the second quarter at TIAA Bank Field, Lawrence took off running and went into a slide as he picked up a first down on a second-and-7. But linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair didn’t ease up and barreled through the Jaguars quarterback, drilling him up high. High tensions flared between the AFC South rivals while a dazed Lawerence laid on the turf.
Al-Shaair, a Texans team captain, was immediately ejected from the game and got into it with Jacksonville fans on his way out. Lawrence, meanwhile, was able to stand up under his own power and left the field on a cart.
The Clemson product was replaced by fellow 2021 first-rounder Mac Jones, who started both of the games Lawrence missed. Jones struggled over that stretch, where he was held under 140 passing yards and without a touchdown in both contests.
