Trevor Lawrence back at practice, must clear concussion protocol - ESPN

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was back on the practice field Friday but still must clear the NFL's concussion protocol to play in Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Coach Doug Pederson said Friday morning that if Lawrence does not clear the protocol by the time the team leaves for Tampa on Saturday, he won't make the trip and backup quarterback C.J. Beathard would make his first start since the final regular-season game in 2020 with San Francisco.

«We'll give him as much as we can, as much as he can tolerate [at practice],» Pederson said.

Pederson also said that he thinks the chances of Lawrence clearing protocol and playing is better than a coin flip but that it will depend on how well Lawrence comes through Friday's workout.

«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. 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.»

If Lawrence doesn't play, it will be the first game he has missed since he was drafted first overall in 2021. He has started 48 consecutive games, which is tied with Patrick Mahomes for the second-longest active streak among quarterbacks. Josh Allen has started 85 consecutive games.

Pederson said Lawrence suffered the concussion on a scramble up the middle with five minutes remaining in the Jaguars' 23-7 loss to Baltimore on Sunday. Lawrence did not leave the game but completed only one of his seven pass attempts after that play. Pederson said Lawrence self-reported symptoms after the game and was placed in the concussion protocol.

Lawrence did not practice Wednesday or Thursday. He has