Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is expected to have a breakout season in 2025. While the talent has always been there, Lawrence has been held back by subpar coaches, injuries, and a lack of offensive weapons to work with. This year, however, everything is different.
Doug Pederson set the Jaguars back, after initially appearing to be what Jacksonville needed to be a playoff contender again. But ultimately, his outdated scheme and the poor culture he oversaw had the opposite effect, and the Jaguars - and Trevor Lawrence - suffered.
But as Lawrence prepares to make his comeback, there's one team he is looking forward to play: the Houston Texans. A divisional rival assumed to be the frontrunner for AFC South champion, there's already a lot of incentive to take on Houston and win. It would set a strong precedent, and send the message that the Jaguars should not be underestimated anymore. But for Lawrence, he has a more personal reason for wanting to smash the Texans.
Trevor Lawrence is out for revenge
Jaguars fans won't have a hard time remembering the last time Lawrence played the Texans. During that game, Houston linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair took out Lawrence with a cheap shot that started a bench-clearing brawl. Lawrence was left with a traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Watch Trevor Lawrence immediately after this horrific hit. His right arm suddenly flexes as his left arm simultaneously extends. This is known as the “fencing posture”—an involuntary reflex that occurs after impact in blunt head trauma. It signifies a traumatic brain injury with… pic.twitter.com/Saa8j8cffJ
— Sam Ghali, M.D. (@EM_RESUS) December 1, 2024
Lawrence was placed on injured reserve, and Al-Shaair was suspended for three games. Yet while Al-Shaair initially apologized, he quickly reversed course and embraced his new status as an NFL super-villain.
Months have past, and Lawrence has clearly recovered from the TBI - but he hasn't forgotten that game, and he is ready for payback. He made that clear in a recent interview, when he was asked about playing the Texans again.
"I mean, there's definitely some things on my mind about this season of, some games I want to take advantage of playing in. And that's one of them," he said. "I mean, all the division ones are always big. Don't really like any of those teams. So I mean, every game is big though. They're all important, but those division ones are especially important, and I look forward to getting to play them early."
Lawrence will again be facing off against Al-Shaair, and considering the linebacker's long history of violence in the league, Al-Shaair himself might be looking to get back at Lawrence again, too. The hit on Lawrence not only destroyed his reputation, but it brought to light his past misbehaviors - including other dirty hits, and literally punching and choking other players.
Azeez Al-Shaair try not to be a dirty player challenge (impossible) pic.twitter.com/PI30RkpMr7
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) December 2, 2024
The NFL has mostly turned a blind eye to Al-Shaair's dirty plays, and the hit on Lawrence got him basically no more than a slap on the wrist. But Jaguars fans can likely rest assured that Lawrence - and the entire team - will be keeping a close eye on him.
And that drive to get payback? It will only serve as further motivation for the Jaguars to not only win, but show the entire league who the AFC South champions will be this year.