Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence explains why he walked, rather than take cart, after ankle injury

Trevor Lawrence suffered a high ankle sprain late in the Jaguars’ loss to the Bengals. As cameras showed him walking gingerly to the locker room to be X-rayed, social media cranked up questioning why there was no cart ride.

Then the national media picked up the criticism on Tuesday. After all, Lawrence is the Jaguars franchise, the former No. 1 pick of the NFL Draft and a standout college player with Clemson. Why risk the quarterback aggravating the injury as he was going for treatment? It seemed akin to shooting one’s self in the foot. Again.

But Lawrence said don’t blame the team’s medical or athletic training staff. It was his idea.

“We talked about getting a cart, and I was going to get a cart,” Lawrence told reporters after Wednesday’s Jaguars practice. “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 and get out of there. I didn’t know what was going on with my ankle. (And) I felt like I could get off. I was like, ‘Hey, you’re good. Just don’t bring it out. I’m going in.’”

Lawrence said don’t blame Jaguars staffers.

“We have everything we need, and I was the one that that didn’t choose to take (the cart), so you guys put that on me,” he told reporters. “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.”

Jaguars staffers helped him slowly walk back to the locker room area.

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Lawrence said he regretted not taking the cart. That’s because he didn’t realize it was a long walk to the locker room area from the field. Or that it would all be documented for the millions of Monday Night Football fans watching from home.

Lawrence said: “Once I got in there I’m like, ‘This is a pretty long walk.’ I was already there, and they asked again if I wanted a cart. I was like, ‘No, we’re gonna make it the whole way there.’

He added: “I didn’t know there was cameras in the tunnel.”

Spinning it forward, it’s not clear when Lawrence will return to action. The injury looked like a serious one when one of his offensive lineman fell back on his ankle. Lawrence also had been dealing with a knee sprain that finally looked like it had healed. The quarterback didn’t practice on Wednesday as the 8-4 Jaguars prepped for a home game against the 7-5 Browns.

However, Lawrence did talk to the media. And he wasn’t wearing a protective boot.

“I feel a lot better than I would’ve thought I’d feel,” Lawrence said in his media availability. “I’m very fortunate (and) I’m thankful that it wasn’t a worse injury what I kind of thought it was on the field. I’m just thankful and I appreciate all the people, the thoughts and prayers.

“Thankfully it wasn’t anything serious. That stuff means a lot and it worked. I’m feeling good, so I’m thankful for that.”