Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is back on the practice field Thursday.
Lawrence did not practice at all on Wednesday because of the high-ankle sprain he suffered against the Bengals on Monday night, but he was in a helmet and on the field with his teammates as they continued their preparations for Sunday’s game in Cleveland.
Videos from the Jaguars and reporters at the open portion of practice showed Lawrence throwing the ball and simulating dropbacks. Reporters noted that he was not taking part in all of the team’s drills, however.
Lawrence will likely be tagged as limited on the team’s Thursday injury report. Friday will bring an official injury designation for the weekend and that will provide a better hint about the likelihood that he’ll be under center in Cleveland.
Rookie cornerback Christian Braswell is on his way back to the Jaguars lineup.
Braswell has been designated for return from injured reserve, which means he can return to practice with the team and that he can be activated at any point in the next 21 days. He cannot be activated if he does not get back on the 53-man roster by that point.
The Jags drafted Braswell in the sixth round this spring. He appeared in three games before injuring his hamstring and going on injured reserve in mid-October.
Braswell played nine special teams snaps and saw no time on defense in those appearances.
A former Jaguars employee has been accused of stealing $22 million from the team.
And, no, it’s not Blake Bortles.
According to TheAthletic.com, former front-office employee Amit Patel allegedly embezzled from the Jaguars by “exploiting the organization’s virtual credit card program.” Patel allegedly used the money to buy two vehicles, a condominium, and a designer watch, among other things. He also allegedly purchased cryptocurrency, placed bets with online gambling sites, and chartered personal jets.
The team was not named in the federal filing, but the Jaguars have confirmed that Patel is accused of stealing from the franchise.
“We can confirm that in February 2023, the team terminated the employment of the individual named in the filing,” the team said in a statement, per TheAthletic.com. “Over the past several months we have cooperated fully with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida during their investigation and thank them for their efforts in this case. As was made clear in the charges, this individual was a former manager of financial planning and analysis who took advantage of his trusted position to covertly and intentionally commit significant fraudulent financial activity at the team’s expense for personal benefit. This individual had no access to confidential football strategy, personnel or other football information. The team engaged experienced law and accounting firms to conduct a comprehensive independent review, which concluded that no other team employees were involved in or aware of his criminal activity.”
Patel was charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of illegal monetary transactions. He is accused of stealing at least $22,221,454.40 from the Jaguars.
Trevor Lawrence isn’t the only injured quarterback on the Jacksonville roster.
C.J. Beathard, who seemed to suffer a left hand/wrist injury early in his stint as Lawrence’s replacement on Monday night, was officially limited in practice on Wednesday with a left shoulder injury.
The Jaguars visit the Browns on Sunday. Only Lawrence and Beathard are on the roster; Nathan Rourke is on the practice squad.
Rourke played in the CFL for two seasons before signing with the Jaguars in 2023. He has never played in an NFL game; unless the Jaguars sign an available free agent, Rourke could be the backup — or maybe the starter — on Sunday at Cleveland.
Other players not practicing for the Jaguars on Wednesday, beyond Lawrence (ankle), were: cornerback Tre Herndon (concussion), receiver Christian Kirk (groin), tackle Walker Little (hamstring), and tight end Brenton Strange (foot).
Limited in practice, beyond Beathard, were: cornerback Tyson Campbell (quadricep), safety Andre Cisco (shoulder), running back Travis Etienne (ribs), defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi (heel), running back D’Ernest Johnson (knee), and receiver Zay Jones (knee).
The Jaguars drew criticism on social media Monday night when Trevor Lawrence limped up the tunnel to the X-ray room with the aid of two athletic trainers.
Lawrence said Wednesday it was his decision not to use a cart.
“We talked about getting a cart, and I was going to get a cart, and then I’m standing there and I’m already on the sideline at that point, the tunnel’s right there, I just wanted to get off the field, get out of there,” Lawrence said, via Michael DiRocco of ESPN. “I didn’t know what was going on with my ankle, and I felt like I could get off [the field]. I was like, ‘Hey, you’re good. Just don’t bring it out. I’m going in.’
“And then once I got in there [the hallway], I’m like, ‘This is a pretty long walk.’ They asked again if I wanted a cart. I’m like, ‘No, we’re going to make it the whole way there.’”
Lawrence defended the team as did Jaguars punter Logan Cooke on social media earlier in the week.
“We have everything we need, and I was the one that that didn’t choose to take [a cart] so you guys put that on me,” Lawrence said. “Maybe that was dumb. Maybe I should have taken one, but it’s nothing to do with us not having a cart available. I don’t think that would happen in the National Football League, especially here with the crew that we have.”
Lawrence was diagnosed with a high right ankle sprain, but he said it already is feeling better. The Jaguars have not ruled him out of Sunday’s game against the Browns.
“I’m really just taking it one day at a time,” Lawrence said. “I’m trying to do as much as I can each day without aggravating it or making anything worse but trying to progress toward hopefully playing. And for the past 48 hours there have been some big steps and I’m really happy with how it’s healing up.
“So, we’ll see. You know, I obviously can’t give any answers right now and just going to take my time and do everything right.”
