Final Week 5 injury report signals return of 3 defensive starters for the Jaguars

• 3 defensive starters are on track to return to the Jaguars' starting lineup for Week 5.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) rushes for yards against Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd (33) during the second quarter of an NFL football matchup Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Browns defeated the Jaguars 18-13. [
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) rushes for yards against Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd (33) during the second quarter of an NFL football matchup Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Browns defeated the Jaguars 18-13. [ / Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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The Jacksonville Jaguars could get reinforcements for their Week 5 game against the Indianapolis Colts. Linebacker Devin Lloyd and defensive back Devin Lloyd sat out the loss to the Houston Texans but both of them could be available against Indy.

Lloyd and Savage are listed as questionable in the team's final injury report for Week 5. The former suffered a knee injury and missed the game against the Texans. The latter has been dealing with a quad injury that's forced him to miss the past three games.

When head coach Doug Pederson met with the local media Friday, he expressed optimism about Lloyd and Savage being available, "Devin will be good, Savage will be good. Both those guys should play."

Linebacker Yasir Abdullah (neck), safety Daniel Thomas (hamstring), defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (concussion), and tight end Evan Engram (hamstring) also popped up on the injury report.

Hines-Allen also got the questionable designation. He left the Houston game with a concussion and is currently on protocol. However, he's trending toward playing against the Colts. He was wearing the red non-contact jersey earlier this week but didn't have it on Friday, per Demetrius Harvey of The Florida Times-Union.

On the other hand, Engram might need to wait another game before he comes back, Pederson said as much during his exchange with the press corps.

Engram suffered a hamstring injury during warmups just before the game against the Cleveland Browns in Week 2 and has missed three consecutive games. During his absence, sophomore Brenton Strange has filled in for him, and it looks like he'll make his fourth straight start Sunday.

The Colts, for their part, are also dealing with a handful of injuries. They've already ruled out running back Jonathan Taylor for the divisional game and could be without cornerback Kenny Moore II, defensive end Kwity Paye, offensive tackle Braden Smith, center Ryan Kelly, and quarterback Anthony Richardson.

Of the bunch, Moore and Paye are officially out while Kelly, Smith and Richardson are listed as questionable.

With Richardson's availability in question, Joe Flacco got most of the first-team reps in practice and seems like a good bet to get the starting nod behind center in Week 5.

Getting Devin Lloyd and Darnell Savage would be huge for the Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars are currently a 2.5-point favorite to beat the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5 and odds will go up if they get Devin Lloyd and Darnell Savage back. Having said that, they have enough talent in place to come out on top even if they don't return.

Sophomore Ventrell Miller made his first NFL start in relief of Lloyd and fared well, registering 10 total tackles and two tackles for a loss. On the other hand, the Jags have relied on rookie Jarrian Jones and Christian Braswell during Savage's absence. Regardless of who ends up suiting up, not having to deal with Jonathan Taylor will take some pressure off of the defense.

The bottom line is that the Jaguars are in a favorable position to earn their first win of the season and honor Tom Coughlin in Week 5.

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