Is Jacksonville Jaguars’ Sen’Derrick Marks an injury concern?
By Luke Sims
Jacksonville Jaguars’ stud defensive tackle Sen’Derrick Marks saw 2015 derailed by injury, can he be consistent for the Jags in 2016?
After clinching his eighth sack at the end of the 2014 season and ensuring he would get an additional contract bonus, the sky seemed to be the limit for Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Sen’Derrick Marks. Then in the final game he tore his ACL.
Still, this wasn’t a killer injury. People come back from torn ACLs all the time now. After all, he’d be back in time for the 2015 season. As it turns out, Marks didn’t see the field until game six.
Then, in game nine, Marks tore his triceps and was out for the rest of the 2015 season. The Jags had him on the field for just four weeks. He was the critical center of a defensive line that was already missing rookie pass rusher Dante Fowler Jr. off the edge.
It may be too early to call Marks an injury prone player. Outside of 2015 he only missed two games dating back to 2011. He’s a stud and he’s working to get back to full speed.
In the second preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a healthy Marks showed why he is so valuable. He was disruptive on the inside, completely dominating and imposing his will on the offense. He collapse the pocket, gobbled up runners before they could get going, and created opportunities for his peers. He was a stud in that game.
The Jacksonville Jaguars need someone like Marks to be a critical part of the rotation. Right now, he’s the top guy for a defensive line that relies on fresh legs.
Jags senior writer John Oehser highlighted this in his “10 Things” piece before the game. For the first time in a long time, “He was looking right again this week, like his former self. If he keeps looking like that it gives this defense another disruptive lineman. That’s important,” writes Oehser.
I couldn’t agree more.
If the Jags don’t have Marks, they lose a crucial edge on defense. He needs to stay healthy. So far, it looks like the limited reps he’ll be getting behind Malik Jackson and Roy Miller will do him some good and keep him fresh and disruptive.
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Hopefully he can keep it up.