The Jacksonville Jaguars had no trouble fending off the Indianapolis Colts, easily defeating their division foe 42-7. That said, the win came at a hefty cost.
During a fumble recovery on a failed Indianapolis trick play, defensive tackle Davon Hamilton suffered a knee injury. He was carted off the field and ruled out not long after.
While the hope is that Hamilton's injury isn't nearly as serious as it looked, it certainly left a sour taste in the mouth in spite of the win. Even worse, his potential absence will leave a massive void that Jacksonville could have trouble filling.
Losing DaVon Hamilton will be a big blow to the Jaguars
Head coach Liam Coen met with reporters after the game. He stated that losing DaVon Hamilton is a big blow to the team, pointing out that he's not only a mainstay of the defense but also a great human being.
"Extremely difficult. There's not many better humans, better competitors, team guys. I mean, you should have saw D-Ham this week in practice," Coen told reporters (4:24 mark). "His leadership in defensive line individual periods this week. Just the human, the competitor. I can't say enough about him. When he's out there laying down, and he's reassuring me. That's who he is.
Coen continued, "He's reassuring me, and has a smile on his face. Actually, he trusts God, he trusts himself, he trusts life. He's just one of those type of people, and so tough to see that. Obviously, really tough."
Hamilton had started all seven games this season, registering 1.0 sack, 16 total tackles, and one forced fumble. However, his impact went beyond the stat sheet. The former Ohio State Buckeye was the emergency long snapper in the win over the Philadelphia Eagles when Ross Matiscik went down.
Moreover, Ham was one big reason Jacksonville had the top-ranked run defense in the league, with teammate Josh Hines-Allen going as far as calling him the heart and soul of the defense. When you add it all up, losing him for an extended period of time will sting.
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The Jaguars have options amid Davon Hamilton's injury but could trade for help
With DaVon Hamilton probably not suiting up in the foreseeable future, the next man up will probably be Ruke Orhorhoro. Similarly, Matt Dickerson could see an uptick in playing time, while Albert Regis will have a chance to earn a bigger role in the defensive line rotation. However, the trio doesn't precisely inspire confidence, and defensive tackle was already a need before Hamilton's injury. This could force the team's brass to bring in reinforcements ahead of the trade deadline.
With Daron Payne landing on the Injured Reserve and Moro Ojomo seemingly not available, though, the Jags have many compelling options unless they're willing to pay a premium. The Philadelphia Eagles are reportedly not interested in trading Ojomo but may be open to dealing teammate Jalen Carter for the right price, which could be a first-round pick.
You could make the case that giving up a first-rounder in return for Carter is simply too much, and you would be right. However, the Jaguars could be looking at a bleak picture if Hamilton misses time. Carter could help them soften the blow. Either way, they need to brace for the worst-case scenario and act accordingly.
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