The Jacksonville Jaguars will face the Indianapolis Colts in Week 14. Whether this is the most important game in team history is up for debate, but there's no doubt that whichever team comes out on top will be the sole possessor of the top spot in the AFC South.
Both clubs currently have an identical 8-4 record entering the game, but the Jags edge Indianapolis because they have a better record in the conference this season. That said, with a win, Jacksonville will be the clear-cut No. 1 team in the division, so it will, in fact, be a pivotal matchup, and that's why having a handful of prominent players back could have an impact on the outcome.
With this in mind, here's the latest injury report for the Week 14 showdown at Everbank Stadium.
The Jaguars rule out Walker Little but could have Parker Washington and Travon Walker back
To nobody's surprise, the Jaguars have ruled out left tackle Walker Little (concussion) and safety Andrew Wingard (concussion). Neither player had participated in practice this week, and both were long shots to suit up for the Colts game. On a related note, offensive lineman Chuma Edoga was also ruled out with a calf injury.
Offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen will get the nod at left tackle. He filled in for Little when he left the win over the Tennessee Titans and has made starts at both guard spots and right tackle this season.
With Wingard slated to miss the game, Eric Murray will make his return to the starting lineup next to Antonio Johnson. He had his 21-day practice window to return opened before the Titans game, and he should be activated from Injured Reserve before Jacksonville plays the Colts.
On the other hand, wide receiver Parker Washington, defensive end Travon Walker (knee), and defensive tackle Arik Armstead (hand) got the questionable designation for the game.
The Jaguars would love to have Parker Washington and Travon Walker vs. Colts
Cole Van Lanen has come through this season, so he should have no trouble protecting Trevor Lawrence's blindside against the Colts. In fact, he's in a contract year and will have another opportunity to boost his stock ahead of free agency. On the other hand, the Jaguars will surely miss Parker Washington and Travon Walker if they sit out the AFC South showdown.
The silver lining is that Jacksonville just got back Brian Thomas Jr. for the Titans game, so he could have an expanded role if Washington is unavailable.
Then again, the Jags have been without Travon Walker each of the past two bouts, and their pass rush has fared well. That said, having him around would increase their odds of wreaking havoc at the line of scrimmage, which won't be an easy task when you take into account that Indianapolis has one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.
Ultimately, the Jaguars know what's at stake in this game and will need to find a way to come out on top even if Travon Walker and Parker Washington are unavailable.