Following their BYE, the Jacksonville Jaguars will face the Indianapolis Colts in Week 8. And after their AFC showdown, they'll face off against the Baltimore Ravens. While it's hard to tell if Lamar Jackson will suit up for the game — he's seemingly dealing with a high-ankle sprain — the Jags now know that they probably won't have to face rookie offensive guard Vega Ioane.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Ioane suffered an MCL sprain, adding that he'll miss time even though it's a short-term injury. The rookie hog molly left the loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and didn't return.
It's hard to tell just how much time is a little time, but if it wasn't serious, Ioane would be week-to-week or questionable for Week 8. He's not, meaning that there's a strong chance he won't suit up against Jacksonville.
The Jaguars may not have to worry about Vega Ioane when they play the Ravens
The Jaguars will face Baltimore in Week 9. It will be a Thursday Night game. Given that there's a three-day gap between Sunday games and Thursday, players who don't suit up Sunday often miss the Thursday bout. That doesn't bode well for Vega Ioane's availability.
A first-round pick of the Ravens in 2026, Ioane got off to a strong start to his rookie season, giving up just one sack and eight total pressures in six games.
Ioane began the season at right guard but eventually moved to center. He returned to right guard when Baltimore traded for Cam Jurgens from the Philadelphia Eagles. Emery Jones Jr. may be the next man up.
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The Jaguars' D-Line must take advantage of Vega Ioane's absence
Lamar Jackson has missed three games with injuries. Tyler Huntley has filled in for him, throwing for 664 yards with four touchdowns and one interception during his absence. There hasn't been that steep a drop-off at quarterback, but without Vega Ioane, the Baltimore offensive line could have trouble protecting whoever lines up behind center. This is encouraging news for a Jacksonville defensive line that has struggled to create pressure from the interior.
While the Jaguars excel at stuffing the run, they have had trouble getting after the quarterback this season, registering just 11 sacks. Sure, they've racked up pressures, but those haven't always translated into big plays, takeaways, and such.
Maybe the Jags can get better production from their interior defensive line after their break. Arik Armstead has played at a high level at times but has been inconsistent. On the other hand, DaVon Hamilton won't offer much in the pass-rush department, while Ruke Orhorhoro hasn't made the leap he was expected to make when he was traded to Jacksonville. Rookie Albert Regis is also in the mix but has barely played.
When you add it all up, it's easy to see why the Jaguars are being urged to trade for a defensive tackle. Maybe they will, maybe they won't, but they'll at least get a bit of a break when they play the Ravens.
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