Category: Injury news

Jaguars vs. Colts: Indianapolis downgrades QB to doubtful

Jaguars vs. Colts: Indianapolis downgrades QB to doubtful

This story was updated to include new information.

The Colts are trending toward deploying their backup backfield against the Jaguars on Sunday.

After ruling starting running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) out and quarterback Anthony Richardson (hip/oblique) questionable on Friday, Indianapolis downgraded Richardson to doubtful on Saturday, making it unlikely he will play against Jacksonville in Week 5.

The Colts also downgraded starting center Ryan Kelly from questionable to doubtful, and added cornerback Samuel Womack III to their injury report with an illness, deeming him questionable for the matchup.

Joe Flacco will start in place of Richardson if indeed the latter can not play. Trey Sermon is set to take over for Taylor at running back.

Indianapolis’ No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, injuries limited Richardson to four appearances during his rookie season, which he has matched this year up until now.

Richardson has completed 89-of-161 passes (55.3%) for 1,231 yards with six touchdowns and seven interceptions, adding 277 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

Jaguars fans remember the last time Flacco suited up against Jacksonville, in Week 14 of 2023 for Cleveland with starting quarterback Deshaun Watson out due to a season-ending shoulder injury. Flacco threw for 311 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in the Browns’ 31-27 victory.

The 17th-year NFL quarterback has passed for 44,104 yards, 247 touchdowns and 155 interceptions in his 163-game career.

Report: Star Colts RB ‘likely’ out vs. Jaguars

Report: Star Colts RB ‘likely’ out vs. Jaguars

The Colts will likely be without star running back Jonathan Taylor against the Jaguars in Jacksonville on Sunday, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Taylor suffered an ankle injury late in Indianapolis’ Week 4 win over Pittsburgh, leading to his exit from the game after collecting 88 rushing yards and one touchdown.

“[Taylor] is dealing with a high-ankle sprain from that game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has not practiced this week,” Rapoport explained.

“My understanding is it was a mild sprain but likely to miss some time. This would be the time. It would be a surprise if he was able get on the field for the Colts.”

Taylor has rushed 72 times for 349 yards and four touchdowns this season, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. He has added six receptions for 77 yards.

Jacksonville limited Taylor to 19 yards over eight rushes but allowed him five catches for 46 yards un Week 6 last season. He was not available for the Jaguars and Colts’ Week 1 matchup in 2023 amid a contract dispute.

Rapoport also shared a brief update on Colts starting quarterback Anthony Richardson, calling it a “good sign” he has practiced in a limited fashion daily this week after suffering a hip injury against the Steelers.

Doug Pederson expects two key Jaguars defenders to return in Week 5

Doug Pederson expects two key Jaguars defenders to return in Week 5

Jaguars starting defenders, linebacker Devin Lloyd and Darnell Savage Jr. are expected to play against the Colts in Week 5, Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson shared Friday.

Lloyd missed Jacksonville’s Week 4 matchup with Houston while dealing with knee soreness. Savage has been sidelined since Week 2 with a quadriceps injury.

“Devin will be good, Savage will be good. Both of those guys should play,” Pederson said.

Lloyd recorded 21 total tackles including one for loss and two defended passes over the first three weeks of the season. Savage broke up two passes against Miami in Week 1 in his debut with Jacksonville after signing with the club in free agency this offseason.

Pederson also expressed optimism, albeit comparatively not as much, about Jaguars star defensive end Josh Hines-Allen‘s status after he entered the NFL’s concussion protocol this week. Hines-Allen went down against the Texans on Sunday.

“Still in the protocol. Optimistic though. Still has through another phase but he’s doing well,” Pederson shared.

Hines-Allen, who signed a five-year, $141.3 million extension with Jacksonville in April, has 12 tackles including one for loss and two defended passes this season, bringing his career total to 264 tackles with 54 for loss, 46 sacks, two interceptions, 10 defended passes and nine forced fumbles in 78 games with the Jaguars.

Although he practiced for the first time since Week 2 this week, Jaguars starting tight end Evan Engram (hamstring) is likely to be a game-time decision in Week 5, per Pederson.

“Evan I think is still day-to-day. He’s done some good things this week but we’ll get through today, probably will be game time,” said Pederson. “But we’ll see where he’s at as we get closer.”

Engram caught one pass for five yards in Jacksonville’s season-opener against Miami, putting him up to 188 receptions for 1,734 yards and eight touchdowns in 35 games with the Jaguars.

Jaguars DE Josh Hines-Allen returns to practice

Jaguars DE Josh Hines-Allen returns to practice

Jaguars star defensive end Josh Hines-Allen returned to practice in what appeared to be a limited capacity Thursday after missing Wednesday’s workout while in the NFL concussion protocol, per Michael DiRocco of ESPN.

DiRocco noted that Hines-Allen participated while wearing a no-contact jersey in the media viewing window of Thursday’s practice.

Hines-Allen exited Jacksonville’s Week 4 matchup with Houston in the third quarter after taking on contact during a run by Texans running back J.J. Taylor, leading to his placement in the concussion protocol. He finished the game with three tackles and two quarterback hits.

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson suggested Monday that he did not intend to rush Hines-Allen back into action, ensuring he clears protocol instead of taking any risks.

“That’s a day-to-day thing and I want to make sure he’s 100 percent,” Pederson said.

After signing a five-year, $141.3 million contract extension with Jacksonville this summer, Hines-Allen has recorded 12 total tackles including one for loss, one sack, two defended passes and six quarterback hits.

Hines-Allen is up to 264 tackles with 54 for loss, 46 sacks, two interceptions, 10 defended passes and nine forced fumbles in his 78-game Jaguars career.

Jaguars TE Evan Engram returns to practice

Jaguars TE Evan Engram returns to practice

Star Jaguars tight end Evan Engram, who has been nursing a hamstring injury since the hours before kickoff in Week 2, returned to practice for the first time since Sept. 13 on Wednesday, per Juston Lewis of the Florida Times-Union.

Fellow Times-Union reporter Demetrius Harvey shared a video of Engram catching a pass from Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence in the media viewing window of practice. Engram had a sleeve over his right leg but was not wearing a no-contact jersey.

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson called Engram “day-to-day” on Monday and Wednesday, suggesting the tight end will practice in a limited manner to begin the work and go from there.

“Yeah, Evan’s day-to-day,” Pederson said before practice Wednesday. “He’ll get out and he’ll do some of our individual stuff today. Then we’ll see as each day progresses, see how he feels.”

Engram caught one pass for five yards in Jacksonville’s season-opener against Miami. He has logged 188 receptions for 1,734 yards and eight touchdowns in 35 games with the Jaguars.

Doug Pederson updates six injured Jaguars starters entering Week 5

Doug Pederson updates six injured Jaguars starters entering Week 5

The Jaguars are banged up entering Week 5 and ahead of their second consecutive AFC South showdown, against the Colts at home on Sunday.

Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson provided updates for six hurt Jaguars starters Monday, including confirmation that star defensive end Josh Hines-Allen entered the NFL’s concussion protocol after taking a thud against Houston in Week 4.

Running back Travis Etienne Jr. (shoulder) and right tackle Anton Harrison (ankle) will “be fine” after getting hurt in the Jaguars’ 24-20 loss against the Texans, too, per Pederson.

Linebacker Devin Lloyd (knee) was somewhat surprisingly made inactive before kickoff in Week 4. He appeared on Jacksonville’s injury report last Thursday and was questionable entering the game, although Pederson said Friday that the linebacker was dealing with soreness and “should be fine.”

“[Lloyd] had just a contusion the week before. It was kind of sore during the week, hopefully he would make it. Just went to warm up prior to the game and just felt like he couldn’t give 100 percent, so we put him down,” Pederson explained Monday.

Tight end Evan Engram (hamstring) and safety Darnell Savage Jr. (quadriceps) each missed their third consecutive game Sunday. Savage entered the weekend questionable but was downgraded to out Saturday.

Pederson indicated Savage did not suffer a setback, but rather, he did not get to 100% athletically during practice last week, leaving him sidelined for at least one more game. Engram enters Week 5 “day-to-day.”

“I’m hoping Savage [will be available in Week 5]. He went last week. Pushed it pretty hard. Didn’t feel like he could really open up last week – not a setback, nothing like that. We’ve just got to get him to burst,” said Pederson.

“Evan, I think is going to be day-to-day right now. Felt good today, we’ll see where he’s at here in a couple of days.”

Pederson thinks Jaguars DE Josh Hines-Allen is in concussion protocol

Pederson thinks Jaguars DE Josh Hines-Allen is in concussion protocol

Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson shared his belief that star defensive end Josh Hines-Allen entered the NFL’s concussion protocol amid the Jaguars’ 24-20 loss to Texans in Houston on Sunday.

Hines-Allen briefly exited the contest with over five minutes left in the third quarter, after a six-yard rush by Texans running back J.J. Taylor. He re-entered the game two plays later for one rep but was ultimately pulled from action during Houston’s next drive.

“I’ll talk to Ferg (Jaguars vice president of player health and performance Jeff Ferguson), see what he says. But, I think so, yes,” Pederson said post-game, asked if Hines-Allen had entered concussion protocol.

Hines-Allen finished the game with three total tackles and two quarterback hits.

Through four games after signing a five-year, $141.3 million contract extension with Jacksonville in April, Hines-Allen has accumulated 12 total tackles including one for loss, one sack, two defended passes and six quarterback hits.

Pro Football Focus credits Hines-Allen for generating 10 quarterback pressures through the season’s first three weeks. The outlet had not charted the edge rusher’s Week 4 performance at press time.

Facing Jaguars Week 5, Colts QB Anthony Richardson hurt vs. Steelers

Facing Jaguars Week 5, Colts QB Anthony Richardson hurt vs. Steelers

This story was updated to add new information. 

Looking ahead to Week 5, Jacksonville will have a quarterback situation to monitor.

While the Jaguars took on the Texans in their first AFC South matchup of the year Sunday, Jacksonville’s next opponent, the fellow divisional foe Colts, lost starting signal-caller Anthony Richardson to a hip injury for the rest of their Week 4 contest against the Steelers.

Seventeenth-year NFL quarterback Joe Flacco took over for Richardson and would be slated to start against Jacksonville in Week 5 if Richardson can not play for Indianapolis.

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported that, despite being ruled out of the game, Richardson returned to the sidelines wearing pads for the second half against Pittsburgh.

Richardson, the Colts’ No. 4 overall pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft, finished the game three-of-four passing for 71 yards, adding three rushes for 24 yards. Flacco was 9-of-14 for 84 yards and one passing touchdown at press time.

Flacco notably led Cleveland to a 31-27 victory over Jacksonville last season, filling in for injured Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson that week. Flacco completed 26-of-45 passes for 311 yards with three touchdowns and one interception against the Jaguars.

Richardson went 24-of-37 passing for 223 yards with one touchdown and one interception and rushed 10 times for 40 yards and one touchdown against Jacksonville last season, in his NFL debut, a 31-21 Jaguars win.

The Jaguars will host the Colts at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 6, at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville.

Jaguars vs. Texans: Inactive lists

Jaguars vs. Texans: Inactive lists

Not including players currently on injured reserve, the Jaguars and Texans will be without a combined seven starters and would-be starters in Week 4.

Two were downgraded Sunday morning, with the Texans sidelining running back Joe Mixon and the Jaguars ruling linebacker Devin Lloyd out shortly before kickoff Sunday.

Jacksonville and Houston released their inactive lists around 11:30 a.m. ET. Find both reports below.

Jaguars inactive

  • TE Evan Engram
  • OL Javon Foster
  • OL Cole Van Lanen
  • DE Myles Cole
  • DT Jordan Jefferson
  • LB Devin Lloyd
  • S Darnell Savage Jr.

Analysis: The Jaguars surprisingly made Lloyd inactive after Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson said the linebacker “should be fine” on Friday, noting Lloyd was placed on the injury report during the week with knee soreness.

Jacksonville will be without both of its starting linebackers, Lloyd and Foyesade Oluokun, against Hpuston as a result. Oluokun (foot) went on injured reserve Saturday. Ventrell Miller and Chad Muma are slated to take over in the middle of the Jaguars’ defense.

The Jaguars previously ruled starters, tight end Evan Engram (hamstring) and safety Darnell Savage Jr. (quadriceps), out on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Each player will miss their third consecutive game.

Texans inactives

  • RB Joe Mixon
  • RB Dameon Pierce
  • WR Tank Dell
  • OG Nick Broeker
  • LB Jamal Hill
  • S Jimmie Ward

Analysis: The Texans will be without their starting and backup running backs, Mixon and Dameon Pierce, as Mixon was ruled out earlier Sunday morning. Cam Akers is expected to fill the role.

Like Pierce, starting wide receiver Tank Dell and starting safety Jimmie Ward were deemed out of Week 4 on Friday.

Former Jacksonville and current starting Houston defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi is active after being deemed questionable for the contest with a shoulder injury.

Report: Texans rule starting RB out vs. Jaguars

Report: Texans rule starting RB out vs. Jaguars

The Texans downgraded starting running back Joe Mixon from questionable to out of Houston’s Week 4 matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars in the hours before the game on Sunday, per NFL reporter Jordan Schultz.

Mixon missed Week 3 with an ankle injury, which restricted him to one limited practice session leasing up to Houston’s AFC South bout with Jacksonville. Schultz reported Mixon tested out his ankle before the game and that the Texans decided to rest him for one more week.

Mixon was traded to Houston from Cincinnati, where he began his NFL career in 2017, this offseason. He quickly signed a two-year, $19.5 million contract extension with the Texans to take over as their starting running back.

He generated 184 rushing yards and one touchdown over his first 39 carries with the team, and added six receptions for 44 yards before suffering his injury.

Houston will also be without backup running back Dameon Pierce, who was ruled out Friday with a hamstring injury.

Cam Akers is expected to start in place of Mixon and Pierce after rushing for a combined 53 yards over 16 attempts against Chicago and Minnesota in Weeks 2-3.

The Jaguars and Texans are expected to publish their inactive lists around 11:30 a.m. ET Sunday.