After not being able to practice all week with a knee injury, the Jacksonville Jaguars officially ruled defensive end Josh Allen OUT Saturday afternoon for Week 5’s game against the Houston Texans. This news comes after Allen was ruled questionable along side several others on the final injury report Friday.
DE Josh Allen (knee) has been downgraded to OUT, as he will not travel with the team to Houston this evening.
— #DUUUVAL (@Jaguars) October 10, 2020
Allen’s absence is a huge blow to the Jags’ struggling defense, which hasn’t been able to generate much of a pass rush this season and has allowed a league-high completion rate of 77% against them. It also doesn’t help that the defense will be going up against one of the most mobile quarterbacks in the NFL in Deshaun Watson, who has been an unstoppable force against the team.
With Allen now out of the lineup, first-round pick K’Lavon Chaisson will be called on to step up in his place and will likely earn his first career start. The rookie will come into Week 5 with seven total tackles to his name and a sack. He’s also managed to register two quarterback hits over the span of Weeks 1-4.
It also wouldn’t be surprising to see Dawuane Smoot receive an increase in snaps to help keep Chaisson fresh. Smoot, who currently is in his fourth season, will enter Sunday’s game with four total tackles this season (one of which is a TFL) in addition to one quarterback hit.
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