Jags activate 2 starters from Reserve/COVID-19 list

Shaquill Griffin and Ben Bartch were removed from the Reserve/COVID-19 list and should be good to go on Sunday against the Colts.

Jacksonville has one more game to play before the 2021 season mercifully reaches its conclusion, and the team will be back closer to full strength for that matchup. Two starters that missed Sunday’s 50-10 loss to the New England Patriots will be back this week in cornerback Shaquill Griffin and right tackle Ben Bartch, the team announced on Thursday.

The Jaguars’ secondary struggled without Griffin last week, and the offensive line was down three starters. Bartch’s return will be welcome considering the lack of depth at the position when the team finishes its season at home against Indianapolis.

Other players who were taken off the COVID-19 list include rookie linebacker Dylan Moses, who returns to the Reserve/Non-Football Injury list, and receiver Josh Hammond, who returns to the practice squad.

However, the Jags also placed a couple of contributors on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in linebacker Chappelle Russell and punter J.K. Scott. Russell sees quite a bit of playing time as a backup, and he started two weeks ago with Myles Jack out. Scott, meanwhile, started on Sunday after Logan Cooke was placed on the injured reserve, ending his season. With Scott likely out on Sunday, the team could be forced to sign another punter.

COVID-19 cases are something that every franchise is dealing with as the more transmissible omicron variant spreads, but the Jags seem to be past the worst of it and will have most of their starters back for this week’s game.