After waiting for his chance for more than three years, Walker Little finally became the starting left tackle for the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this season. Unfortunately, he won't be able to enjoy his new role for long, as he suffered an injury that will most likely sideline him for the remainder of the year.
Head coach Doug Pederson met with the local media ahead of the Week 17 game against the Tennessee Titans. He says that Little won't suit up and will probably sit out the next two games, effectively putting an end to the season.
The news doesn't necessarily come as a surprise, though. Little, a second-round pick in 2021, suffered an ankle injury against the Las Vegas Raiders and left the contest. He didn't practice Wednesday, and Pederson had previously stated that the fourth-year left tackle would probably sit out the Week 17 divisional bout. What was surprising is that he will also miss the finale against the Indianapolis Colts.
Then again, there are only two games left in the season. Moreover, the Titans aren't necessarily a defensive juggernaut. Granted, they have a pair of talented pass rushers in Harold Landry III and Arden Key. However, the Tennesee defensive front hasn't been nearly as dominant in recent years.
"We know Walker Little, he'll be out with the ankle. will probably miss the rest of the year," Pederson said when asked to provide injury updates. "Savage is still a concussion protocol, so day to day. We'll see how that progresses. Ventrell's ankle, didn't do anything yesterday. We'll see today, probably be limited today. He's the latest.... everyone else is dinged up. Brenton Strange will be fine. Tyson 's good. The ones that came out of the game returned all be good for the game."
With Little out of the game, Cole Van Lanen will get the start. He stepped onto the field against the Raiders and ended up playing 62 snaps and gave up just one total pressure. Pederson told the press corps that the team wants to see how the fourth-year pro performs after having a strong preseason.
Van Lanen, a sixth-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in 2021, was traded to the Jaguars before the start of the 2022 season. While he played offensive tackle at Wisconsin, he switched to guard early in his NFL career but has recently moved back to the edge. The former Badger is slated to become a free agent next year, so he could benefit from a strong showing in the next two games.
The Jaguars should be fine without Walker Little in the fold
The Jacksonville Jaguars would surely like to have Walker Little in the lineup. Heck, they traded Cam Robinson and gave him a three-year deal worth $45 million to ensure that's the case this season and beyond. On the other hand, they know that there's no benefit in rushing him back on the field at this point of the year, especially after getting eliminated from playoff contention. That's why it makes sense to keep him on the sidelines the next two games.
Moreover, the team's brass will get a chance to see how Cole Van Lanen performs. But even if Jacksonville loses against Tennessee, it won't be the end of the world. After all, a loss would increase the team's chances of getting a better position in the 2025 NFL Draft. Currently, they're on pace to end up with the No. 3 pick.
The bottom line is that this is not the way Walker Little anticipated his season ended, but he'll have ample time to rest and prepare for the offseason.