Breaking: Bucs Receive Big Injury News Ahead of Week 16 Game

The Vegas oddsmakers are busy re-adjusting their lines for the Bucs vs Jaguars matchup tomorrow. That’s because there is breaking news regarding one of the most important players on either team. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence has cleared concussion protocol and will travel to Tampa to play on Christmas Eve against the Bucs. That is according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Source: #Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence has cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol and will travel to Tampa with his team. A significant development. pic.twitter.com/mBGySEllmy

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 23, 2023

Bucs May Face Talented Young Quarterback

Lawrence has been dealing with a concussion suffered in week 15 against the Baltimore Ravens. This was on the heels of a high ankle sprain he was dealing with from just the week prior in a game against the Cleveland Browns. Lawrence did not practice Wednesday or Thursday but was a limited participant in Friday’s practice, per the team’s Friday injury report. Passing the concussion protocol was the next hurdle in Lawrence’s uphill battle to start on Sunday. By passing the protocol he was allowed to travel with the team to Tampa.

Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence – Photo by: USA Today

Travelling with the team is a big step forward, but not the final one. The team may still elect to not start Lawrence against the Bucs depending on how he feels come Sunday morning/afternoon. Teams do not have to disclose who is active/inactive until 90 minutes before kickoff. The game is a late one, starting at 4:05 which means Jacksonville doesn’t have to disclose whether Lawrence is active until 2:35 pm Christmas Eve. And even if Lawrence is active the team may still opt to start backup C.J. Beathard who finished their 31-27 loss to the Browns but did not play against the Ravens. Just last week the Seattle Seahawks dressed starting quarterback Geno Smith for their Monday Night Football matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles but decided to have Smith backup Drew Lock. The team kept Smith’s status unknown up and through the publishing of the inactives list. Lock went on to lead Seattle to a thrilling last-minute 20-17 come-from-behind victory.

The Jaguars are currently in a three-way tie atop the AFC South standings, and therefore need this win just as much as the Bucs do. That may push the team to go with a less than 100% Lawrence over the career backup. Lawrence has started 48 straight games to begin his NFL career.