Even though right guard Patrick Mekari missed a good chunk of the offseason program and training camp with a back injury, the Jacksonville Jaguars didn't seem overly concerned. Heck, he was listed as the starter in the first (and the second) unofficial depth chart. However, his situation took a sudden twist when a report emerged that the veteran offensive lineman had undergone surgery after the first preseason game.
The procedure raised questions about Mekari's readiness for the season opener. And in light of the Daniel Faalele trade, it's possible that the injury might be worse than the Jags originally thought.
The Daniel Faalele trade confirms the Jaguars will be without Patrick Mekari
In late July, head coach Liam Coen stated that he was worried about Patrick Mekari missing time, noting that he was a veteran that wasn't going to miss a beat even if he didn't practice. The fact that the former California Golden Bear was listed as the starter made it seem that he was progressing. Moreover, Wyatt Milum was holding the fort during his absence. However, it all came to a screeching halt after the preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers.
Milum struggled, and Jacksonville lost backup Chuma Edoga to an injury in Week 1 of the preseason. Although Edoga will return before the start of the season, the Jaguars were in dire need of depth on the offensive line — especially the right side — when you take into account that Mekari and Cole Van Lanen are currently out.
The dearth of healthy bodies appeared to have prompted the Jags to trade for Daniel Faalele, sending a sixth-round selection to the New York Giants in return for the hog molly.
Faalele signed with the New York Giants in free agency but was stuck behind first-round selection Francis Mauigoa and Jon Runyan. Without a clear path to the starting lineup, Faalele was expendable and might have been a release candidate on cutdown day. This allowed Big Blue to flip him for a late-round selection.
In Jacksonville, Faalele could either start right off the bat or provide depth. Although he gave up a combined five sacks and more than 60 total pressures the past two years, he also started 32 consecutive games with the Baltimore Ravens, so he most definitely offers immediate help on the Jacksonville offensive line.
This begs the question, how does the trade for Faalele affect Mekari?
The Jaguars may be without Patrick Mekari for a while
It's hard to tell from an outside perspective why exactly the Jaguars traded for Daniel Faalele. Liam Coen says they needed depth up front, and he's right. On the other hand, you could make the case that Jacksonville wouldn't have made the deal if the team's brass was confident Patrick Mekari and Cole Van Lanen were close to recovering.
Walker Little suffered an injury during the scrimmage one week before Week 1of the preseason but is now back in the fold. Chuma Edoga will also return soon, but even with those two in the mix, the Jags needed Van Lanen and Mekari.
The fact that the team's decision-makers felt compelled to trade for Faalele may be a sign that Mekari may not be close to returning. Keep in mind that back injuries are notoriously tricky, so there's a strong chance he will start the regular season on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Heck, nobody would bat an eye if he has to miss a substantial portion of the regular season.
After all, Mekari wasn't practicing before the surgery, so he may still have had a long way to go. Van Lanen, for his part, continues his recovery from a knee injury he suffered late in 2025. He's expected to return for the start of the season but could also remain on PUP and sit out a few games. The difference is that Walker Little can start at right tackle if needed. On the other hand, the Jags didn't appear to have great options at right guard.
If Little starts at right tackle, the next in line at right guard would have been Waytt Milum, and he's left to be desired. In fact, Emmanuel Pregnon may have been a better option at this point.
The truth is that the Jaguars may not have traded for Daniel Faalele if they thought Patrick Mekari was close to returning. The silver lining is that he can now fully focus on being 100 percent, and the team has the depth to overcome his absence. Having said that, it may be a while (maybe even next year) before he returns to the football field.
Add us as a preferred source on Google