Injuries keep decimating Jacksonville Jaguars, place 3 on IR

The Jacksonville Jaguars will be short-handed on defense again.

This hasn’t been a kind year for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Earlier in the season, the team had to deal with a number of injuries most teams go through. Nevertheless, the injury bug has hit the roster hard these last few weeks.

After playing the Pittsburgh Steelers, head coach Doug Marrone said defensive end Josh Allen would miss time with a knee injury and is now on the Injured Reserve list. However, the Kentucky standout isn’t the only player the ‘Jags’ will be without in upcoming weeks.

Safety Daniel Thomas and D.J. Hayden were also placed on the reserve list after going down with injuries in Week 11. The week before, the team put rookie cornerback C.J. Henderson on the list as well. Cornerback Sidney Jones is currently nursing an Achilles injury and could miss the team’s matchup against the Cleveland Browns.

To add insult to injury, kicker Chase McLaughlin was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list and won’t suit up Sunday, so Aldrick Rosas will handle kicking duties when the team plays the Browns. In two games with the Jaguars, MacLaughlin is 3-of-3 in field goal attempts.

What does this mean for the Jacksonville Jaguars?

The Jags have just promoted safety Doug Middleton and running back Nathan Cottrell from the practice squad, but neither move will have a big impact on the roster and there’s not much the team can do other than promote some of their practice squad players.

The Jaguars cornerback group is the one that was hit the hardest as they are now without their top three players. Tre Herndon will get one starting spot, but the coaching staff isn’t sure at this point who will start opposite of him and who will be their cornerback in Week 12.

On the bright side, the Jaguars’ offense will be mostly healthy and could get wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. in time for their game against the Browns.