Early in the season, the injury bug struck the Jacksonville Jaguars. In a span of just a few weeks, they lost tight end Brenton Strange, safety Eric Murray, and two-way star Travis Hunter. More recently, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. suffered an ankle sprain that forced him to miss three games. However, they've had much better injury luck ahead of their matchup against the New York Jets.
Strange and Murray got a few weeks ago. Similarly, Thomas returned and had a jaw-dropping game in the win over the Indianapolis Colts. Sure, Hunter is out for the year after undergoing knee surgery, but Jacksonville is as healthy as it can be at this point of the season. This should give them a massive edge against the New York Jets in Week 15.
The Jaguars listed Walker Little and Parker Washington as questionable
The Jaguars are entering the game with only two players listed as questionable: Walker Little (concussion) and Parker Washington (hip). The former cleared concussion protocol, and the latter practiced in full Friday, so they have a good chance to suit up against the Jets. Then again, nobody would bat an eye if the coaching staff holds them out and waits until next week to bring them back.
Whether Little plays or not, Cole Van Lanen could fill in for him at left tackle. He got the start against the Colts and fared well, giving up just one total pressure. On the other hand, Trevor Lawrence would love to have Washington back, but the trio of Brian Thomas Jr., Jakobi Meyers, and Tim Patrick showed out during his absence, so the Jags could afford to be without him.
Meanwhile, undrafted rookie Brady Cook will make his NFL debut behind center. With Tyrod Taylor and Justin Fields recovering from injuries, New York turned to its third-string quarterback. That could give a surging Jaguars defense a great matchup for the game.
Aside from Fields and Taylor, the Jets will be without tight end Mason Taylor and cornerback Azareye'h Thomas.
On a different note, the Jaguars will enjoy great weather (no rain, 76 degrees Fahrenheit) when they welcome the Jets at EverBank Stadium, so Lawrence and the offense should have no trouble putting points on the scoreboard. When you add it all up, it's easy to see why they're a 13.5-point favorite.
Related: Grade the pitch: The Jaguars trade Travon Walker to the Eagles to restock draft capital
Jaguars inactives for the Jaguars game vs. the NY Jets
Here are the inactives for today's game:
• Yasir Abdullah, linebacker
• Walker Little, offensive tackle
• Hunter Long, tight end
• Emmanuel Ogbah, defensive end
• Austin Johnson, defensive lineman