Injury bug doesn’t give Jacksonville Jaguars a break in 27-3 loss
The Jacksonville Jaguars keep getting struck by injuries in 27-3 loss
Not long ago, Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Todd Wash said that the team’s defensive unit was making strides and its players were performing better. If you looked at the scoreboard in recent weeks, you might’ve dismissed Wash’s words as coachspeak.
However, the Jaguars defense has indeed taken some steps forward in recent weeks after allowing at least 30 points for six consecutive games. In the last three games, they gave up 27 points twice and 24 once. It may not look like a meaningful improvement but it is a step in the right direction, or it was before a couple of key playmakers sustained significant injuries when they played the Pittsburg Steelers in Week 11.
Safety Daniel Thomas left the Steelers game with an arm injury, and head coach Doug Marrone said in the conference after the game that the team would place him on the Injured Reserve list. Defensive end Josh Allen suffered a knee injury. He couldn’t get up on his own, was helped off the field and later taken to the locker room with the assistance of two trainers. Slot cornerback D.J. Hayden couldn’t finish the game either and left with a knee injury.
Marrone said in the sitdown he doesn’t know how much time Allen or Hayden will miss but he will let the press know once he gets an update. If the defensive end misses a big amount of playing time, the Jaguars’ defense could be in trouble. Currently, they rank dead last in sacks with nine, and Allen’s absence would further exacerbate the team’s struggles to pressure the quarterback.
The Jacksonville Jaguars defense keeps losing players.
Heading into Week 11, the ‘Jags’ placed cornerback C.J. Henderson on the Injured Reserve list with a groin injury. Also, Sidney Jones would end up missing the contest with an Achilles injury. The former Philadelphia Eagles cornerback could be back as soon as next week, but the defense will be without Thomas and Allen for an indefinite amount of time.
Thomas had been getting more playing time recently and was making the most out of his snaps. In fact, he intercepted a pass in Week 11. On the other hand, Allen has been dealing with injuries all year and hasn’t been himself. The team could opt to place him on injured reserve like Thomas and let him get fully healthy.
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Regardless of what the ‘Jags’ do with Allen, injuries are piling up on their defense, and some of their best players won’t’ dress up in upcoming weeks. Whatever strides the unit was making, they might take a few steps back in upcoming weeks.