Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen has been downgraded to out for Sunday’s Week 18 game against the Indianapolis Colts.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Hines-Allen did not travel with the Jaguars to Indianapolis for “personal reasons.”
Hines-Allen leads the Jaguars defense in pressures this season with 63, which is also tied for the eighth-most among all pass rushers this season. He also ranks 20th among his position group in tackles against the run as well.
Still available in this game for the Jaguars is Travon Walker, who has also put up some impressive numbers this season, ranking 11th in run-stops and has 53 pressures of his own. The bulk of Walker’s snaps come on the left side of the defensive line, meaning that Matt Goncalves at right tackle will see a heavy dose of him on Sunday.
As productive as Hines-Allen and Walker have been this season, the Jaguars’ defense as a whole doesn’t rank all that well when it comes to getting after the quarterback. By Pro Football Reference’s pressure rate metric, Jacksonville ranks 30th. In ESPN’s pass rush win rate metric, the Jaguars rank 31st.
The Colts’ offensive line was supposed to be a strength this season, but due to injuries, we’ve seen up-and-down play, particularly in pass protection, where Indianapolis has allowed the 11th highest pressure rate this season and those struggles could be magnified without Anthony Richardson’s mobility in the backfield.
We’ve also seen the Colts, at times, have issues getting the run game going when the threat of the quarterback in the run game isn’t available.