JACKSONVILLE – This one got ugly early on. It also got emotional.

When quarterback Trevor Lawrence left with a concussion – and there were two fights that delayed the game after a blatant hit that caused the injury – the Jaguars went out, recovered and nearly lost with a 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans returned in front of 62,588 fans at EverBank Stadium Sunday afternoon.

The loss eliminated the Jaguars from the AFC South race.

Jaguars backup quarterback Mac Jones threw fourth-quarter touchdowns to wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr. and Parker Washington to cut a 23-6 fourth-quarter deficit to the final margin.

Texans running back Joe Mixon and tight end Dalton Schultz scored touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters, with the Texans scoring three straight possessions in the second half to escape a 6-6 tie early in the second half.

The Jaguars (2-10) lost their fourth straight game. The AFC South-leading Texans (8-5) won after losing four of their last six games.

The game will be remembered for its ugly play in the second quarter, in which Lawrence suffered a concussion after a blatant and unnecessary hit by linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.

Lawrence gained six yards on the Jaguars’ second-and-7 in the 49th minute, with Al-Shair hitting Lawrence in the head with his forearm after Lawrence began to slide. Al-Shaair was penalized for unnecessary roughness, with Jaguars tight end Evan Engram immediately clearing Al-Shaair and several members of both teams arguing near the Jaguars sideline for several minutes.

Al-Shaair and Jaguars rookie cornerback Jarrian Jones were ejected, and the incident continued when Al-Shaair went to the visitors’ locker room.

Jones, who started the Jaguars’ last two games with Lawrence because of an injury to his left – non-throwing – shoulder, completed 20 of 32 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns and no interceptions. Lawrence, playing for the first time since injuring his shoulder in a road loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 3, completed four of 10 passes for 41 yards and no touchdowns with no interceptions.

Texas quarterback CJ Stroud completed 22 of 34 passes for 242 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions.

The Jaguars recorded two sacks and no takeaways on Sunday, with defensive end Travon Walker registering a sack in the first quarter and defensive end Josh Hines-Allen adding a sack in the second quarter. Walker has 8.5 sacks this season and Hines-Allen has six.

• The Texans largely controlled a scoreless first quarter, recording five first downs and 90 yards to one first down and 44 to the Jaguars.
• Texas kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 53-yard field goal gave Houston a 3-0 lead with 14:51 left in the second quarter. The play capped a 40-yard drive, with the key play being a 40-yard pass from Stroud to wide receiver Nico Collins to the Jaguars 35 just before the end of the first quarter. Fairbairn added a 30-yard field goal on the ensuing drive to give the Texans a 6-0 lead with 6:26 left in the second quarter. That came after 11 plays, 33 yards, after Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. returned an interception from Lawrence 31 yards to the Jaguars’ 44 yards. The Texans’ lead was 6-3 with :08 minutes remaining in the second quarter.
• Little’s 30-yard field goal capped a nine-play, 68-yard drive to tie the game at 6-6 with 10:06 left in the third quarter; Thomas converted a cross route into a 56-yard catch-and-run to the Texans 13, setting up the field goal. The Texans gained 70 yards in five plays on the ensuing possession and took a 13-6 lead on Mixon’s seven-yard run with 8:04 left in the third quarter. The Texans extended the lead to 16-6 on their ensuing series with a 28-yard field goal by Fairbairn with 1:16 left in the third quarter.
• Schultz’s 22-yard touchdown reception off a pass from Stroud increased the Texans’ lead to 23-6 with 12:11 remaining. Washington’s 22-yard reception cut the lead to 23-12 on the ensuing series, while Thomas’ six-yard reception – and Washington’s subsequent two-point reception – cut the lead to 23-20 with 3:31 left.

• Linebacker Yasir Abdullah (hamstring) was among the Jaguars’ six inactive players Sunday, the others being running back D’Ernest Johnson, rookie offensive lineman Javon Foster, defensive tackle Esezi Otomewo, rookie defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson and quarterback CJ Beathard (third emergency quarterback). ). ).

• Lawrence was sidelined with a concussion shortly after his injury. Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell suffered a hamstring injury in the third quarter and did not return. Jaguars safety Darnell Savage suffered an ankle injury and returned.