Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence appeared to suffer a serious injury after his ankle was stepped on by offensive lineman Walker Little and he was bent backward.
Lawrence attempted to stand up and walk to the sideline but fell back to the ground, which drew a major gasp from the crowd at Jacksonville’s EverBank Stadium. The quarterback obviously couldn’t put weight on his right foot, yet a curious decision was made not to bring out a cart to drive him back to the locker room for an X-ray exam.
That led to a painfully long walk for Lawrence, who needed help from a trainer and security guard to stay upright and slowly move forward. Watching the video of this agonizing trek, many fans wanted to know why a cart wasn’t used to transport Lawrence. Did the team not have a cart for its franchise quarterback?
“That’s it, Trev. Just a few hundred more yards to go. You got it.” pic.twitter.com/MRm7MqhfBS
— Korked Bats (@korkedbats) December 5, 2023
“That’s it, Trev. Just a few hundred more yards to go. You got it.” pic.twitter.com/MRm7MqhfBS
— Korked Bats (@korkedbats) December 5, 2023
Why is he not on a cart?
— Will Whitson (@will_whitson2) December 5, 2023
How you got a swimming pool and not a medical cart?
— Big O (@therealOStinson) December 5, 2023
They’re too focused on AEW to fund a stupid cart.
— Steweezee F Baby (@StewMcDizzy) December 5, 2023
Unfortunately we forgot to charge the cart. Whoops.
— Warcodered (@Warcodered05) December 5, 2023
The most likely explanation is that Lawrence refused to ride a cart back to the locker room and insisted on walking.
Many players have done the same, opting against transportation while unable to walk or perhaps laying on a stretcher. Maybe it’s intended as a display of toughness or trying to maintain some dignity after being badly hurt and having to leave teammates behind on the field.
Why Lawrence walked back instead of riding a cart is a question Jaguars coach Doug Pederson might face after the Bengals’ 34–31 victory.
