The Jacksonville Jaguars are looking for their third win of the 2024 season when they face the Green Bay Packers in Week 8. Working in their favor is that a couple of key contributors will be available for the game. On the other hand, the Jags have ruled out safety Andrew Wingard ahead of the game.
One day before the contest, the team announced that left tackle Cam Robinson cleared concussion protocol and linebacker Foyesade Oluokun was designated to return from Injured Reserve. However, Wingard will miss the game while he continues to recover from a knee injury he suffered in training camp.
-Downgraded S Andrew Wingard from questionable to out
— JaguarsPR (@JaguarsPR) October 26, 2024
-OL Cam Robinson has cleared concussion protocol and has no game status for tomorrow’s game
Additionally, the Jaguars have elevated running back Jake Funk and defensive end Joe Graziano from the practice squad to the active roster via standard elevation.
This will be Oluokun's first game since suffering a foot injury in Week 3. Although head coach Doug Pederson originally said that the injury wasn't thought to be serious, the veteran linebacker ultimately landed on IR and missed four bouts.
Robinson, on the other hand, suffered a concussion in the win over the New England Patriots and left the game prematurely. He entered protocol and was limited in practice ahead of Week 8.
Apart from Wingard, Robinson, and Oluokun, defensive tackle Maason Smith (ankle), Esezi Otomewo (calf), and running back Travis Etienne (hamstring) got the questionable designation for Week 8.
Travis Etienne be available for the Jaguars in Week 8
The decision to elevate running back Jake Funk could be a sign that Travis Etienne won't suit up against the Green Bay Packers. That said, there's a reason to believe that he'll play.
Doug Pederson told the local media Friday that Etienne would be a game-time decision, so his availability could be a flip coin. Keep in mind that the Jacksonville Jaguars could've downgraded him like Andrew Wingard, but they didn't, so there's a chance the fourth-year running back will play.
Etienne suffered a shoulder injury early in the season but didn't miss a game. He did see a decrease in his workload, but that also coincided with sophomore Tank Bigsby's ascension. However, the former Clemson Tiger has been bothered by a hamstring injury that forced him to sit out the win over the New England Patriots.
The Jaguars are a 4.5-point underdog ahead of the game, so they should feel great about having Cam Robinson and Foyesade Oluokun for the game. They'll need all the help they can get to beat the 5-2 Packers.
On the other hand, it's a good thing that they're not pressing Wingard into action. As inspiring as his eventual return will be for the whole team, the coaching staff doesn't benefit from rushing him back and potentially getting re-injured. For the time being, Jacksonville could continue experimenting with the backfield lineup they had against the Patriots.
Pederson says that ideally, Andre Cisco and Darnell Savage will start at safety, Jarrian Jones will line up in the slot, and sophomore Antonio Johnson will play in dime packages. The Packers' offense will give Jacksonville a chance to see if it works.
If it doesn't, maybe they can give Dewey a shot to show what he can do once he's back.