To wrap up the 2024 NFL season, the Indianapolis Colts will host the Jacksonville Jaguars at home in Week 18.
On Wednesday, the Jaguars announced that they placed quarterback Trevor Lawrence on injured reserve with a concussion.
Lawrence sustained a hard and late hit on Sunday from Texans’ linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair while sliding as a ball carrier.
Lawrence would exit the game, Al-Shaair was ejected and has been suspended by the NFL for three games.
At a minimum, Lawrence will have to miss the next four games on IR, so it is still possible that he could return and play in the final game of the season. However, as SI’s Albert Breer pointed out, with the Jaguars already out of playoff contention, it is possible that Lawrence’s season is over.
Update: Ian Rapoport has since reported that Lawrence will have surgery on an AC joint injury in his left shoulder, ending his 2024 season.
For the Colts, who are still in the AFC playoff hunt, it’s possible that this Week 18 game could mean quite a lot to them.
At 6-7 on the season, they are two games back of the Broncos for the AFC’s seventh-seed, but play Denver coming out of the bye week.
A win and the Colts are only a game back with what is on paper the easiest remaining schedule in football.
In the first meeting between the two teams in Jacksonville, Lawrence led the Jaguars to victory, completing 28-of-34 passes for 371 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
The Jaguars will enter Week 14 at 2-10 on the season.