Brandon Linder injury another big loss for the Jaguars
By David Levin
The Jacksonville Jaguars have announced that center Brandon Linder will undergo knee surgery and will be lost for the remainder of the season.
Add Brandon Linder to the revolving list of players who will not finish out the season in a Jaguars uniform. The team announced on Monday their center will have knee surgery after suffering an injury in the 29-26 loss to Indianapolis on Sunday.
Linder, the anchor of the Jaguars offensive line is the third starter this season who has been placed on injured reserve. Left tackle Cam Robinson suffered an ACL injury against the New England Patriots and was lost for the season. His replacement, Josh Wells suffered a groin injury and has been replaced by Josh Walker and Ereck Flowers.
This is the second season Linder has missed significant time with the team after inking a deal last offseason for $51.7 million and includes $24 million in guaranteed money of guaranteed money. Tyler Shatley moved into the pivot role on Sunday against the Colts following the injury and figures to get the call once again when Jacksonville faces the Pittsburgh Steelers this coming Sunday.
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Linder missed the regular season game at Pittsburgh last season due to illness and Shatley replaced him in the lineup. The Jaguars won 30-9 at Heinz Field. He played in all nine games this season. Jacksonville is 3-6 for the season.
The offensive line played better this week, not allowing a sack of quarterback Blake Bortles. Head coach Doug Marrone told the media on Monday about Linder’s injury and surgery forthcoming. He would not go into any other specifics.
"“Just knee surgery. I would rather just keep it like that because I don’t really have all the ins and outs to give labels. It is knee surgery,” he said."
The offensive line has been a question mark the majority of the season. Bortles has been sacked 18 times in nine games after only suffering 24 last season. He has thrown for 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions on the season.
Against the Colts, he tossed two touchdowns and did not have an interception or a turnover.
This past offseason, the Jaguars looked to beef up their front five by adding All-Pro guard Andrew Norwell in free agency. Per overthecap.com, his contract is worth $66,500,000 with $30,000,000 guaranteed upon signing.
Norwell receives a $15,000,000 signing bonus, and his 2018 & 2019 base salaries are fully guaranteed.
Linder was a third-round pick out of Miami in 2014, the same draft class that produced current Jaguars Bortles, Marqise Lee and Telvin Smith.