3 reasons the Jacksonville Jaguars could fail to win the AFC South in 2023

1. The Jaguars lose Trevor Lawrence, other key players to a season-ending injury

There's only so much teams can do to prevent injuries in a collision sport such as football. Having enough depth can certainly help lessen their impact. Sure, there's a drop-off from the starter to the backup more often than not but the best ways ultimately find ways to win in spite of injuries.

In the Jaguars' case, there are several players they're counting on to make a deep playoff run and Trevor Lawrence is without a doubt the most valuable one. While backup C.J. Beathard could keep the offense afloat for a handful of games, not having Steeze Trev for an extended period of time would put a significant dent in their postseason hopes.

That said, Lawrence isn't the only player the Jaguars cannot afford to lose. Their depth on the offensive line is less-than-optimal. Left tackle Cam Robinson will sit out four weeks to start the season and swing tackle Josh Wells will miss the 2023 season with an abductor injury.

If either Anton Harrison or Walker Little gets hurt, the Jags would then need to lean on Blake Hance, a player who has spent most of his career in the practice squad. Similarly, Jacksonville cannot afford to lose either outside linebacker Josh Allen or Travon Walker. As it is, their pass rush rotation isn't in great shape, and missing Allen or Walker would hinder their ability to get after the quarterback next season.

Working in the Jaguars' favor is that they have lots of depth at wide receiver — they're carrying seven wideouts into the regular season — running back, safety, and cornerback. Thus, it's fair to say that they can withstand a few injuries. On the other hand, there's a point at which Jacksonville will no longer be able to. That would be the worst-case scenario for 2023 and if it takes place, the Jags' chances of making noise will decrease considerably.

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