**Trevor Lawrence Weighs Surgery but Eyes Early Return**

Trevor Lawrence, the quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars, is facing a tough decision regarding his sprained left shoulder. While he hasn't ruled out the possibility of undergoing surgery before the season ends, Lawrence is determined to get back on the field as soon as he can. If his practice sessions go well this week, he might make his return this Sunday against the Houston Texans at EverBank Stadium.

Assessing the severity of the AC joint injury has proven to be challenging. Lawrence admitted on Wednesday, "It's definitely something that I'm considering and not off the table at all." He emphasized the approach will be on a daily and weekly evaluation basis. His primary goal, however, remains to rejoin his teammates and contribute to the season's finish.

Lawrence sustained the shoulder injury during the first half of a game against Philadelphia on November 3. Despite the pain, he didn't miss a snap and nearly led the Jaguars to a comeback victory, only to be thwarted by an end zone interception with just over a minute remaining. The injury did force him to miss the Jaguars' past two games, during which the team struggled offensively under backup quarterback Mac Jones, managing a meager 313 yards and just 13 points combined in losses to Minnesota and Detroit.

Returning to practice on Monday for the first time since November 8, Lawrence felt positive about his shoulder's response. Head coach Doug Pederson echoed this sentiment, noting that Lawrence was given the majority of the first-team reps during Wednesday's practice, an encouraging sign for his potential participation against the Texans.

Lawrence, who has completed 61.3% of his passes for 2,004 yards and 11 touchdowns with six interceptions this season, said his shoulder feels the best it has since the injury. Nevertheless, he plans to continue evaluating his condition throughout the week before committing to play. He remains prepared for both scenarios—being ready to take on a full game or stepping back to ensure Jones gets the necessary practice reps.

Balancing his desire to play with the need to make the best long-term decision for his health, Lawrence remains optimistic and focused on his goal. "I feel the best I felt in the past few weeks," he shared, indicating a hopeful outlook for an imminent return to action.