How James O’Shaughnessy’s injury affects the Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars will need to find another tight end who can match the productivity of James O’Shaughnessy in their offense.

The Jaguars lost a key component to their offense when it was announced tight end James O’Shaughnessy will miss the remainder of the 2019 season after tearing his ACL in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 34-27 loss to the Carolina Panthers.

Emerging as a consistent receiving option for the Jaguars offense, O’Shaughnessy ended his short season with 14 catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns — the most in his career. He led all Jaguars tight ends with 24 receptions last season.

O’Shaughnessy was on the field for the Jaguars, playing 38 snaps per game and getting 12 percent of the team’s targets. Without him, the team’s tight end depth chart now only features Geoff Swaim and Josh Oliver, who is still recovering from a hamstring injury. There is no word on when Oliver will play, but he is practicing with the team.

The team did announce they have re-signed Ben Koyack to the active roster, but he is more of a blocking tight end and had no receptions for the team in 2018.

Going into their game against the Panthers, Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone ruled out Josh Oliver, but was hopeful he could return soon.

"“And then with Josh Oliver, he’s not ready yet, he practiced three days and hopefully next, we’ll go day-to-day with him,” Marrone told reporters."

Taken in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Oliver will be needed greatly as the Jaguars look to find quarterback Gardner Minshew II a security blanket like O’Shaughnessy.

Right now, the Jaguars are relying on an injured rookie tight end — who has yet to take the field — and a backup tight end who has caught 47 catches and one touchdown in four seasons. Until Oliver returns, Swaim will need to step up in the receiving game and provide a consistent and respected receiving threat.

Also in O’Shaughnessy’s absence, wide receivers Dede Westbrook – 227 yards and one touchdown – and Chris Conley – 243 yards and one touchdown – will garner more targets from Minshew.

Another aspect of O’Shaughnessy’s game that will be missed by the offense is his run blocking. The front office and fans must miss former veteran, Marcedes Lewis, right about now.

With the recent breakthrough from wide receiver DJ Chark, the Jaguars should begin to revolve the offense around the second-year wideout instead of running back Leonard Fournette, especially without the run blocking ability of O’Shaughnessy available.

Despite being considered a run-first team with Fournette in the backfield, the Jaguars are currently the 10th ranked passing offense in the league, averaging 254.6 yards per game. The team also 27 “explosive plays,” characterized as rushing plays over 15 yards and passing plays over 20 yards, tied for eighth in the league.

Injuries have been a crucial part of the 2019 season, but what Marrone and the rest of the Jaguars’ coaching staff have done spectacularly is make adjustments and get the team right for the next week, and the week after that.