The @Jaguars have placed OL Will Richardson Jr. on injured reserve, S Andrew Wingard on the Reserve/COVID-19 list and RB BJ Emmons on the practice squad/COVID-19 list, the team announced today.
— JaguarsPR (@JaguarsPR) December 30, 2021
Jacksonville has two more difficult matchups before the 2021 season comes to a merciful end, and it will have to navigate those without several players available. On Thursday, the team placed offensive lineman Will Richardson Jr. on the injured reserve list while also placing starting safety Andrew Wingard on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.
Richardson spent most of the season as one of the team’s primary backups along the offensive line, but he was thrust into the starting lineup in last week’s loss to the New York Jets after Ben Bartch was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. He scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery in that one, but he missed practice on Wednesday with a finger injury and has now been shut down for the remainder of the season.
Wingard, meanwhile, has started every game at safety this season but could potentially be out for Sunday’s game on the road against the New England Patriots. If he is vaccinated and asymptomatic, he can return after submitting two negative tests in a 24-hour period. However, if he is unvaccinated, he will have to wait at least five days to return, per the NFL’s updated protocol that reflects the latest recommendations from the CDC.
If Wingard is unable to go, Daniel Thomas and rookie Andre Cisco will likely start at safety. Cisco got the first start of his career last week, and both saw significant playing time, faring decently well.
One other piece of news the Jaguars announced on Thursday was the placement of practice squad running back B.J. Emmons, who was signed earlier this month, on the practice squad/COVID-19 list.