The Jacksonville Jaguars received some good news Wednesday in terms of getting some of their most experienced offensive veterans on the practice field. Those players were tight end James O’Shaughnessy and center Brandon Linder, both of whom were placed on the injured reserve/designated to return list.
The @Jaguars have placed OL Brandon Linder and TE James O’Shaughnessy on the IR/Designated for Return list, the team announced today.
— JaguarsPR (@JaguarsPR) November 17, 2021
Now, the team has 21 days to place both back on the active roster, which means fans can expect both to return at some point in the coming weeks.
Linder was placed on injured reserve after the Jags’ game against the Tennessee Titans Week 5 after sustaining an MCL and ankle sprain in a goal-line play. Last Sunday’s game marked the fourth one that he missed since the injury as Tyler Shatley has filled in since.
As for O’Shaughnessy, he was placed on IR with an ankle injury on Sept. 23 after the Jags’ Week 2 game against the Denver Broncos. His injury occurred early in the game as he only took the field for three offensive snaps. Since, they’ve made additions at the tight end position in his absence by signing Jacob Hollister and trading for Dan Arnold.
Linder’s return, whenever it happens will be huge and will give a struggling offense back one of the league’s top centers. And while Shatley has been fine at the position, Linder has Pro Bowl potential when at his best.
O’Shaughnessy was widely viewed as the Jags’ best receiving threat at tight end, but Arnold has come up huge for the team there since being traded to Jacksonville. Since landing with the team in September, he’s accumulated 27 catches for 323 yards, but adding in O’Shaughnessy into the mix would give them a nice one-two punch.
It’s not quite clear if the Jags will look to get both on the field this week against the San Francisco 49ers, but at this point, they don’t have to be rushed back as the Jags are likely out of playoff contention. However, when both can return, they will be welcomed additions as the Jags are currently ranked 23rd in terms of overall offense.