4 players Jaguars can’t afford to lose to injuries in 2021

The Jacksonville Jaguars need C.J. Henderson to play at a high level.

Wait a minute? Why is sophomore C.J. Henderson on this list if cornerback is one of the Jaguars’ deepest positional groups in 2021? The team’s brass signed Shaquill Griffin in free agency. They also brought back Tre Herndon and Sidney Jones this offseason. If that wasn’t enough, they used the 33rd overall selection of this year’s draft on Tyson Campbell.

If the Jaguars’ cornerback room is so crowded, why is it that they can’t afford to lose Henderson? The 2020 first-round pick will most likely start opposite Griffin in Week 1 but if he missed time, Jones or even Campbell would start in his place. Nevertheless, Jacksonville needs Henderson to remain healthy in 2021. He missed eight games last season with a hamstring injury and he underwent labrum surgery earlier this year. He hasn’t shown signs of being injury-prone. Instead, it looks like he went through a phase of bad luck.

Either way, Henderson displayed flashes last year and if he wants to untap his potential, he will have to stay healthy. Furthermore, the Jags’ cornerback room has depth but they may be better off without testing it. If the ninth overall selection in 2020’s draft is out for an extended period of time, Jacksonville will need to rely on Jones, who hasn’t managed to play a full season over his four-year career, and Campbell, who has never played a snap in the NFL.

Both Jones and Campbell and solid alternatives to Henderson but the Jaguars surely prefer the former Gator to be one of their top corners in 2021.