Injury news – Page 4 – Syndication Server

Doug Pederson updates Jaguars’ injuries vs. Packers

In addition to confirming a broken collarbone for wide receiver Christian Kirk and revealing receiver Brian Thomas Jr. avoided a major injury, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson on Monday shed light on Jacksonville’s other injuries from its 30-27 loss to Green Bay in Week 8.

Wide receiver Gabe Davis (shoulder), offensive guards Brandon Scherff (knee) and Ezra Cleveland (ankle), and cornerback Ronald Darby (hip) each got hurt during the game, with only Scherff returning to action before the final whistle.

“Gabe should be fine. Again, it was just the shoulder. He just lost some feeling in there and we were just kind of waiting for that to come back a little bit during the game. Sometimes those are funny things but should be fine,” Pederson explained about Davis, suggesting he aggravated a previous injury.

Davis was on Jacksonville’s injury report with a hurt shoulder between Weeks 4-5.

“Ezra, ankle. He will be probably, as of today, probably day-to-day going into the weekend,” Pederson continued. “Scherff came back. Scherff’s going to be sore. Tough guy. Battled. Came back, finished the game. Should be okay for this weekend. Darby will be more day-to-day.”

The Jaguars return to practice Wednesday ahead of their Week 9 matchup with the Eagles in Philadelphia. Jacksonville’s next batch of injury updates will come out following that session.

Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. avoids major injury, ‘day-to-day’

Jaguars star rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. avoided a major injury against the Packers in Week 8, Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson shared Monday.

Thomas suffered a chest contusion as he caught a 14-yard, brief-lead-taking touchdown in the third quarter of Jacksonville’s loss to Green Bay on Sunday, per Pederson.

“He’s just got a little contusion on the left side of his chest. It’s going to be sore,” Pederson said. “It’s kind of a day-to-day thing.”

Thomas underwent an MRI earlier Monday which did not show any significant damage, the wide receiver told ESPN’s Michael DiRocco.

Pederson suggested there is a chance Thomas will be able to play in Week 9 when the Jaguars travel to Philadelphia to play the Eagles, depending on how Thomas handles his soreness throughout the week.

“Yes. I think it’s more about how much he can tolerate,” said Pederson.

Thomas finished Week 8 with three receptions for 60 yards and one touchdown bringing his rookie season totals to 33 catches for 573 yards (17.4 yards per reception) and five touchdowns through eight games.

Report: Jaguars star WR facing MRI to determine injury severity

Jaguars star rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. will have his chest injury examined by an MRI this week to determine its severity and his status moving forward, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Monday morning.

Thomas suffered the injury, which Rapoport noted was to his ribs specifically, in Jacksonville’s 30-27 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, after hauling in a 14-yard, brief-lead-taking touchdown in the third quarter of the matchup.

Thomas finished the game with three receptions for 60 yards and the score, bringing his debut season totals to 33 catches for 573 yards (17.4 yards per reception) and five touchdowns through eight games.

Jacksonville saw each of its starting wide receivers suffer injuries against Green Bay. Gabe Davis (shoulder) and Christian Kirk (shoulder) also exited the game, with the latter’s season reaching its end due to a broken collarbone.

Guards Brandon Scherff (knee) and Ezra Cleveland (ankle), and cornerback Robald Darby (hip) also got hurt. Of the six players, only Scherff returned to the contest.

The Jaguars travel to Philadelphia to face the Eagles in Week 9, on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET.

Report: Jaguars WR Christian Kirk’s injury vs. Packers season-ending

Jaguars starting slot receiver Christian Kirk suffered a season-ending broken left collarbone in Jacksonville’s 30-27 loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 8, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported late Sunday.

Schefter added that Kirk had drawn trade interest last week with the NFL trade dealing approaching on Nov. 5.

Kirk landed on his upper left arm while trying to make a leaping catch on 3rd and 11 in the fourth quarter, with Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper falling on top of him and breaking up the pass.

Kirk finished the game with two receptions for 59 yards and his year with 27 receptions for 379 yards and one touchdown.

The 27-year-old’s season comes to a close early for a second consecutive year. A core muscle injury ended Kirk’s 2023 campaign in Week 13.

In 37 games since signing a four-year, $72 million free-agent contract with Jacksonville in 2022, Kirk has logged 168 receptions for 2,274 yards and 12 touchdowns.

“He’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever had, ever been around. One of the smartest players I’ve been around. One of the best leaders I’ve been around,” Jaguars tight end Evan Engram said of Kirk after the game.

“You saw him cut up today too, he was rolling, he was getting going. Just a very unfortunate event. God doesn’t make mistakes, there’s a plan. His will is better than any of us could imagine, so he’ll be just fine.”

Kirk was one of six Jaguars starters with an injury reported during Jacksonville’s loss to Green Bay.

Jaguars activate LB Foyesade Oluokun from injured reserve

The Jaguars activated starting linebacker Foyesade Oluokun from the injured reserve Saturday, making him available to play in Week 8 when Jacksonville hosts the Green Bay Packers.

Oluokun suffered a foot injury during Jacksonville’s Week 3, Monday Night Football loss to the Buffalo Bills, which reportedly turned out to be plantar fasciitis. He landed on the injured reserve Sept. 28 and returned to practice this week.

Oluokun led the Jaguars with 22 total tackles on the season at the time of his injury, three of which were for loss including one sack. He also broke up two passes between Weeks 1-3.

Since signing with Jacksonville in 2022, Oluokun has collected 379 tackles with 23 for loss and 5.5 sacks, one interception, 13 defended passes and three forced fumbles.

Filling in at linebacker with Oluokun sidelined was second-year Jaguar Ventrell Miller, who has recorded 38 total tackles including two for loss and one forced fumble since entering the starting lineup in Week 4.

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson shared Wednesday that Oluokun and Miller could emerge as Jacksonville’s primary linebacker tandem moving forward considering the latter’s emergence. However, Pederson noted current starter Devin Lloyd remains an important part of the position group.

“I would say, the short answer is yes,” Pederson said. “I think too, you want your best 11 on the field, whatever that looks like. Sometimes it doesn’t necessarily have to be the best football player, but the one that does things right the most.

“But I do still think that there’s enough of a rotational piece with those guys. I think that’s one of the positions that’s gotten better these last couple of weeks has been the linebacker. I think Devin in the middle has gotten better. Ventrell, we know he’s improved. Now with the addition of Foye coming back, if he’s ready to go, I think you’ve got your combinations back that you want.”

Jacksonville vs. Green Bay is scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. ET Sunday at EverBank Stadium.

Jaguars clarify OT Cam Robinson’s concussion protocol status

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson misspoke Friday morning when he said Jacksonville starting left tackle Cam Robinson had cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol.

A Jaguars spokesperson clarified after Pederson’s press conference that Robinson has been cleared to practice but remains in the concussion protocol as of Friday afternoon.

“Cam, right now, I can announce that he’s cleared the protocol,” Pederson said Friday morning. “He’ll be out there at practice today. We’ll see where he’s at, but hopefully he’s good. We have to finish him up and contact and stuff, but he can actually be in practice today. So that’s a good thing.”

Robinson suffered a concussion during Jacksonville’s Week 7, 32-16 win over the New England Patriots. He did not practice Wednesday this week but was available in a limited capacity Thursday, per the Jaguars’ injury report.

Jacksonville’s starting left tackle since his second-round NFL draft selection by the club in 2017, Robinson has appeared in 91 games over eight seasons with the Jaguars.

Fourth-year Jaguars offensive lineman Walker Little would start at left tackle if Robinson can not play against the Green Bay Packers in Week 8. One of Jacksonville’s two second-round picks in 2021, Little has appeared in 47 games with the team including 17 starts as a swing lineman.

What are the chances Jaguars’ Oluokun, Wingard play vs. Packers?

Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson called the chances of Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun and safety Andrew Wingard playing against the Green Bay Packers in Week 8 “good” on Wednesday.

Oluokun (foot) and Wingard (knee) are designated to return from the injured reserve and both had their 21-day practice windows opened on Tuesday.

Asked about each player’s odds of playing Sunday, Pederson expressed optimism but added that their statuses will be monitored in practice this week.

“Good. It just means that we’ve opened their window and they can practice now with the team and not on the side with the trainers,” Pederson said.

“So we’ll see each day how they do, how they get back out there and do more football movement. If it looks good, great. If not, we go another week and see next week.”

In addition to opening Oluokun and Wingard’s practice windows, the Jaguars released cornerback Tre Flowers on Tuesday.

Paired with defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris being traded to Seattle last week, Jacksonville’s active roster currently stands at 51 players, leaving room for Oluokon and Wingard to be activated before game day.

Oluokun led the Jaguars’ defense with 22 total tackles on the season before suffering his injury in Week 3 against Buffalo. Since signing with Jacksonville in 2022, he has recorded 379 tackles with 23 for loss and 5.5 sacks, one interception, 13 defended passes and three forced fumbles.

Wingard has posted 250 tackles including eight for loss, two sacks, five interceptions, nine defended passes and three forced fumbles in 78 appearances since signing with the Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He hurt his knee during training camp in July.

Jaguars RB Travis Etienne Jr. enters Week 8 ‘day-to-day’

Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. enters Week 8 “day-to-day,” Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson said Wednesday.

Etienne did not play in Jacksonville’s Week 7 win over the New England Patriots as he nursed a hamstring injury suffered the week before against the Chicago Bears. Pederson suggested he will practice in a limited capacity to begin this week.

“T.J. is doing fine,” Pederson said. “Again, day-to-day. He’ll get some work out there. Not with the team per se, but maybe a little bit of the individual and then work with the trainers after that.”

Before hurting his hamstring, Etienne nursed a shoulder injury between Weeks 4-6 that did not impact his availability for those games.

Etienne has rushed 56 times for 230 yards and two touchdowns and caught 16 passes for 91 yards in six games.

Despite Etienne’s injury limitations, Jacksonville has maintained a strong rushing attack this season due to the emergence of second-year running back Tank Bigsby. Bigsby leads the Jaguars with 415 yards and four touchdowns over 67 rushing attempts through seven weeks.

Jaguars open practice windows for Oluokun, Wingard; release CB

The Jaguars made a trio of roster moves Tuesday, opening the 21-day injured reserve practice windows for linebacker Foyesade Oluokun and safety Andrew Wingard, and releasing cornerback Tre Flowers.

Oluokun was designated to return from the injured reserve on Tuesday. Wingard, who was placed on the reserve during the preseason, was designated to return in August.

Oluokun, Jacksonville’s starting middle linebacker, led the Jaguars in tackles with 22 on the season when he went down with a foot injury against Buffalo in Week 3, leading to his placement on the injured reserve.

Since signing with Jacksonville in 2022, Oluokun has collected 379 tackles with 23 for loss and 5.5 sacks, one interception, 13 defended passes and three forced fumbles.

Wingard suffered a knee injury during one of the Jaguars’ July training camp practices, leading him to miss Jacksonville’s three preseason games and the first seven weeks of the season.

An undrafted signee by Jacksonville in 2019, Wingard stuck with the club and has compiled 250 tackles including eight for loss, two sacks, five interceptions, nine defended passes and three forced fumbles in 78 appearances including 26 defensive starts.

Flowers began the season on Jacksonville’s practice squad but was signed to the active roster in Week 2 when starting cornerback Tyson Campbell was placed on the injured reserve.

Flowers appeared in four games and made three tackles. His release follows Campbell’s return from the reserve in Week 7.

The Jaguars’ active roster currently stands at 51 players.

Report: Jaguars RB Travis Etienne Jr. ‘unlikely’ to play vs. Patriots

Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. is “unlikely” to play in Week 7 when Jacksonville hosts the New England Patriots at Wembley Stadium in London, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson said Friday that Etienne was “progressing” in his recovery from a hamstring injury suffered last week against the Chicago Bears, suggesting his availability against New England would be a game-time decision.

The update followed Pederson calling Etienne “week-to-week” due to his injury on Monday.

Etienne has logged 230 yards and two touchdowns over 56 rushing attempts this season and added 91 yards over 16 receptions.

Jacksonville’s second first-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft, Etienne has rushed 543 times for 2,363 yards and 18 touchdowns and caught 109 passes for 883 yards and one touchdown in his 40-game Jaguars career.

Tank Bigsby will likely start in place of Etienne at running back against the Patriots on Sunday. Bigsby has rushed for 297 yards and two touchdowns over 41 rushing attempts this season.