Jaguars tackle Cam Robinson to miss opener with knee injury

The Jaguars will play on Sunday without Cam Robinson who suffered another knee injury in practice on Thursday.

This wasn’t the kind of news the Jacksonville Jaguars or left tackle Cam Robinson needed to hear ahead of their game with the Kansas City Chiefs. A right knee injury will keep him out of the season opener on Sunday.

According to head coach Doug Marrone, Robinson suffered the injury, which was without contact, during practice on Thursday. The injury makes matters a bit tougher for the Jaguars because his backup, Cedric Ogbuehi will not play due to a hamstring injury.

The offensive line was one of the biggest problems for the Jaguars last season, where Robinson suffered an ACL team to his left knee and missed the final 14 games of the season. Jacksonville used four different left tackles last season due to various injuries.

"Per Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com and other sources, “The team plans on starting second-year player Will Richardson against the Chiefs at TIAA Bank Field. Richardson was competing throughout the preseason to be the starting guard but has also practiced some at left tackle.”"

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Richardson, who has been the talk of training camp for the work he put in at the right guard spot, will be asked to come in and stop the Chiefs pass rush and protect Nick Foles blind side. With Richardson on the left side and rookie Jawaan Taylor at right tackle, the Jaguars will have two new starters on the outside from Week 1 of last season.

"“Marrone said Robinson underwent an MRI but he does not know the results, nor does he know if the injury is severe enough to be season-ending,” DiRocco added.“You know what I’ve learned around here? I just take things day by day and the guys that can play, play, and the guys that can’t, they just tell me,” Marrone said. “What else am I going to do? I’m not a doctor. Can’t predict anything. I have no clue whatsoever.”"

The team will use a heavy dose of running the football this season, with running back Leonard Fournette getting the majority of the catches out of the backfield. The Jaguars coaching staff stressed the importance of line play and the running game this offseason, in OTAs and training camp. Jacksonville was 19th in the NFL last season in yards per game on the ground. In 2017, they led the league with over 141 yards per game.

The offensive line surrendered 53 sacks last season because of issues with pass protection. In 2017, the starting five gave up only 24 sacks all season.

In other news: The Jaguars have announced their captains for the 2019-20 season. They are Foles, defensive end Calais Campbell, linebacker Myles Jack, center Brandon Linder, and defensive back Cody Davis.