Jaguars' Trevor Lawrence Declined Cart Ride After Ankle Injury: 'Maybe That Was Dumb'

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence admitted Wednesday that his decision to avoid a ride on the cart after suffering a high ankle sprain in Monday's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals was a bad idea.

"Maybe that was dumb. Maybe I should have taken one," Lawrence told reporters. "… I didn't know cameras were going to be there. It wasn't us not having a cart available."

Lawrence suffered the injury late in the fourth quarter of Monday's loss to the Bengals after left tackle Walker Little was pushed backward and stepped on his ankle, sending him to the turf in pain.

The 24-year-old was helped off the field by medical personnel and he attempted to walk down the tunnel and into the locker room. As fans watched the video of the quarterback trying to walk down the tunnel, they questioned why there was no cart to help him off the field.

Lawrence now faces an uphill battle to play on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.

"I'm not going to put that timetable on Trevor," Jags head coach Doug Pederson told reporters Tuesday. "I'm not going to put him in a box like that, but we'll see how he is in a couple of days."

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday that while Lawrence hasn't been ruled out for Sunday's matchup, it's going to be "a challenge" for him to play this weekend.

Losing Lawrence would be a tough blow for the Jaguars, which sit fourth in the AFC South with an 8-4 record and are trying to clinch a playoff berth for the second consecutive season. Jacksonville hasn't reached the playoffs in back-to-back seasons since 1998 and 1999.

The Clemson product has put together a productive 2023 campaign, completing 67.9 percent of his passes for 3,004 yards and 14 touchdowns against seven interceptions in 12 games, in addition to rushing for 248 yards and four scores.

If Lawrence is unable to play against the Browns, veteran backup C.J. Beathard would be in line to start. Beathard completed 9 of 10 passes for 63 yards while filling in for Lawrence against the Bengals.