Darnell Savage Jr. – Syndication Server

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.

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.”

Jaguars sign TE to active roster among Week 4 roster moves

While starting linebacker Foyesade Oluokun’s placement on the Jaguars’ injured reserve stole the spotlight of Jacksonville’s Saturday news dump before facing the Texans in Houston on Sunday, it was one of five moves the club made as it prepares for its first AFC South matchup of the season.

The Jaguars also signed practice squad tight end Josiah Deguara to their active roster, promoted practice squad cornerback Christian Braswell and linebacker Tanner Muse to the active roster via standard elevation, and downgraded starting safety Darnell Savage Jr. (quadriceps) from questionable to out of Week 4.

Deguara, who was promoted to the active roster via standard practice squad elevation in Week 3, will play for the second consecutive week, offering Jacksonville tight end depth as starter Evan Engram (hamstring) is set to miss his third game. He takes the roster spot vacated by Oluokun.

Deguara caught one pass for eight yards in the Jaguars’ 47-10, Monday Night Football loss to the Bills, increasing his career line to 48 receptions for 444 yards and two touchdowns, the vast majority of which he compiled over four seasons with the Packers.

Braswell jumps to the active roster for a third consecutive game as Savage continues to recover from the injury he suffered in practice during Week 2.

A sixth-round draft pick by Jacksonville in 2023, Braswell has logged five tackles this season after appearing in three games but not producing a statistic as a rookie.

Muse’s promotion pairs with Oluokun’s injured reserve placement and fellow starting linebacker Devin Lloyd appearing on the injury report with knee soreness this week. Lloyd enters Week 4 questionable to play.

Muse has recorded 22 total tackles since his third-round draft selection by the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020, over 23 games and one start with Seattle and the Los Angeles Chargers. He has also spent time with Pittsburgh.

Jaguars vs. Texans: Friday injury reports and game statuses

The Jaguars and Texans have deemed a combined six players questionable and five players out of their Week 4, AFC South matchup in Houston.

Jacksonville will be without starting tight end Evan Engram for a third consecutive game, and starting linebacker Foyesade Oluokun for the first of what is expected to be several weeks.

Additionally, three starting Jaguars — wide receiver Gabe Davis, linebacker Devin Lloyd and safety Darnell Savage Jr. — enter the weekend questionable. So does Savage’s backup, Jarrian Jones.

Houston similarly won’t have a pair of starters available Sunday, wide receiver Tank Dell and safety Jimmie Ward. Starting running back Joe Mixon enters the game questionable while his backup, Dameon Pierce, is out.

However, star Texans receiver Nico Collins intends to play after joining the injury report on Thursday.

Find Jacksonville and Houston’s Friday injury reports and initial game statuses for Week 4 below.

* indicates status upgrade from the previous practice

Jaguars injury report

OL Cam Robinson (knee) — full*
OL Anton Harrison (knee) — full*
CB Montaric Brown (chest) — full*
RB Tank Bigsby (shoulder) — limited
WR Gabe Davis (shoulder) — limited
LB Devin Lloyd (knee) — limited*
CB Jarrian Jones (shoulder) — limited
S Darnell Savage Jr. (quadriceps) — limited
TE Evan Engram (hamstring) — did not participate
DL Arik Armstead (veteran rest) — did not participate
LB Foyesade Oluokun (foot) — did not participate

Jaguars game statuses

WR Gabe Davis: QUESTIONABLE
LB Devin Lloyd: QUESTIONABLE
CB Jarrian Jones: QUESTIONABLE
S Darnell Savage Jr.: QUESTIONABLE
TE Evan Engram: OUT
LB Foyesade Oluokun: OUT

Texans injury report

WR Nico Collins (hamstring) — full*
TE Dalton Schultz (ankle) — full
OL Kenyon Green (illness) — full
OL Jarrett Patterson (calf) — full
RB Joe Mixon (ankle) — limited*
DT Folorunso Fatukasi (shoulder) — limited
RB Dameon Pierce (hamstring) — did not participate
WR Tank Dell (chest) — did not participate
S Jimmie Ward (groin) — did not participate

Texans game statuses

RB Joe Mixon: QUESTIONABLE
DT Folorunso Fatukasi: QUESTIONABLE
RB Dameon Pierce: OUT
WR Tank Dell: OUT
S Jimmie Ward: OUT

Doug Pederson shares injury updates on Darnell Savage Jr., Devin Lloyd

Doug Pederson shared updates on Darnell Savage Jr. and Devin Lloyd ahead of Sunday’s game against the Texans

Doug Pederson provided injury updates on a couple of Jacksonville Jaguars defenders Friday ahead of this weekend’s game against the Houston Texans. Darnell Savage Jr., who hasn’t played since Week 1, will once again be questionable to suit up on Sunday due to a quad injury that has hampered him in recent weeks.

Pederson said Savage had a “good day” on Thursday, but “it wasn’t a great day.”

“We’ll see where he’s at, how he feels,” Pederson said Friday. “Try to get him moving around again and give him one more day.”

As for linebacker Devin Lloyd, he’s dealing with some knee soreness but he’s expected to be OK for this weekend’s game. That’s good news for Jacksonville, as Lloyd ranks third on the team with 21 tackles and has also forced a fumble.

The Jaguars visit the Texans at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday as they continue to search for their first win of the season.

Pederson updates Jaguars’ injuries vs. Bills; Engram, Savage

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson shared a handful of injury updates Tuesday following Jacksonville’s 47-10 loss at Buffalo in Week 3, for four players who went down against the Bills and two who missed the game after getting hurt earlier in the season.

Linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (foot), right tackle Anton Harrison (knee), rookie cornerback Jarrian Jones (shoulder) and wide receiver Gabe Davis (shoulder) each left the Monday Night Football at different times.

Pederson suggested Oluokun’s situation is more serious than the others but that each player would be evaluated on a day-to-day or week-to-week basis.

“Jarrian is kind of as tolerated with his shoulder. Everything medically this morning, his check-up and things were good. It’s just going to be as tolerated with him,” Pederson explained. “Anton, again it’s his knee, same one he injured the week before. He’s just going to be day-to-day this week, so we’ve got to be careful with him and make sure he’s feeling good going into Sunday.

“Gabe, you know, his shoulder at the end, it’s just something that he’s, again, day-to-day but should be fine, you know, for the game. And then Foye, it’s his foot. His is probably more week-to-week right now, and you know, there is a chance that he misses this football game.”

Oluokun leads the Jaguars with 22 tackles through three games, including one sack and three tackles for loss, He has also defended two passes.

Harrison, Jacksonville’s first-round NFL draft pick last year, missed one play against Cleveland in Week 2 due to his hurt knee. He took the field for 47 of the Jaguars’ 71 offensive snaps against the Bills in Week 3.

Jones, who has filled in for injured safety/nickel cornerback Darnell Savage Jr. over the last two weeks, has tallied six tackles to begin his debut NFL campaign. He hurt his shoulder while tackling Buffalo running back James Cook on Jacksonville’s first defensive series of the game.

Davis experienced a shoulder injury in the matchup’s final minutes after catching two passes for 18 yards.

Pederson shared that Savage (quadriceps) should return to action in Week 4 against Houston after being sidelined against Cleveland and Buffalo. After signing a three-year, $21.8 million free-agent contract with Jacksonville in March, Savage tallied two pass breakups in his Jaguars debut versus Miami.

Pederson did not express as much confidence in tight end Evan Engram’s availability, however, after he, like Savage missed Weeks 2-3. Engram caught one pass for four yards in Week 1.

“It’ll be close, it’ll be close. But again, a short week. I don’t want to risk anything with Evan. We’ll see. We’ll see tomorrow where he’s at and go from there,” said Pederson. “But we should have Savage back this week, which will be good.”

Jaguars vs. Bills: Inactive lists

The Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills have finalized their inactive lists ahead of Monday Night Football in Orchard Park, New York.

The Jaguars scratched seven players, including injured starters, tight end Evan Engram and safety Darnell Savage Jr., after elevating tight end Josiah Deguara and cornerback Christian Braswell from their practice squad on Monday.

The Bills made five players inactive, including, like the Jaguars, two injured starters: Linebacker Terrel Bernard and cornerback Taron Johnson.

Find Jacksonville and Buffalo’s Week 3 inactive lists below.

Jaguars inactive list

TE Evan Engram
OL Javon Foster
OL Cole Van Lanen
DE Myles Cole
DT Esezi Otomewo
DT Jordan Jefferson
S Darnell Savage Jr.

Analysis: As expected, Engram (hamstring) and Savage (quadriceps) will each miss their second consecutive game.

Notably, rookie defensive lineman and Jacksonville’s second-round pick in the NFL draft, Maason Smith, is active after being a healthy scratch in Week 2.

Seventh-round rookie defensive end Myles Cole is inactive after appearing in Weeks 1-2 and logging 25 total snaps. Fourth-round rookies, offensive tackle Javon Foster and defensive lineman Jordan Jefferson, are healthy scratches for the third game in a row.

Backup offensive tackle Cole Van Lanen and reserve defensive tackle Esezi Otomewo will not dress. Otomewo was active in Week 2 and recorded two assisted tackles.

Bills inactive list

OT Ryan Van Demark
LB Terrel Bernard
LB Edefuan Ulofoshio
CB Taron Johnson
S Mike Edwards

Analysis: Bernard (pectoral) and Johnson (forearm) were both ruled out by Bills head coach Sean McDermott on Wednesday.

Expected to start in place of Bernard and Johnson are Baylon Spector at linebacker and Cam Lewis at nickel corner.

Jaguars downgrade DB Darnell Savage Jr. to out vs. Bills

After deeming him questionable for the contest on Saturday, the Jaguars on Sunday downgraded starting safety Darnell Savage Jr. to out of Jacksonville’s Week 3, Monday Night Football matchup with Buffalo.

Savage will miss his second consecutive game due to a quadriceps injury suffered in practice during Week 2.

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson suggested Saturday that Jacksonville would continue to monitor Savage in practice before determining his availability. He was a limited participant all three days this week

“Darnell, we’ll give him one more day, today. See if he can push through it. Don’t want to risk anything further, but we’ll see where he’s at the end of the day,” Pederson said.

Savage, who signed a three-year, $21.8 million free-agent deal with the Jaguars in March, recorded two defended passes in his debut with Jacksonville, against Miami in Week 1.

The Jaguars did not immediately announce a corresponding move after ruling Savage out of Week 3. Cornerback Christian Braswell was elevated to the active roster from the practice squad with Savage absent in Week 2.

Pederson: Jaguars TE Evan Engram ‘probably’ out vs. Bills

Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson on Saturday cast doubt on tight end Evan Engram being available for the Jaguars’ Week 3, Monday Night Football matchup in Buffalo against the Bills.

Engram suffered a hamstring injury in the hours before Jacksonville hosted Cleveland on Sunday, forcing him out of the contest.

“Evan, probably not going to make it,” Pederson said. “He tried this week, just not there yet. Hopefully next week, we’ll see.”

Pederson added that Engram likely will not travel with the team to Buffalo and instead remain in Jacksonville to continue treatment for his injury.

Engram caught one pass for five yards in Jacksonville’s season-opener at Miami on Sept. 8, an uncharacteristic performance for the tight end following his 114-reception, 963-yard, four-touchdown campaign with the Jaguars in 2023.

Through just over two seasons with the club, Engram has caught 188 passes for 1,734 yards and eight touchdowns.

Pederson also provided an update on starting Jaguars safety Darnell Savage Jr., who missed Week 2 and has been limited in practice this week due to a quadriceps injury.

“Darnell, we’ll give him one more day, today. See if he can push through it. Don’t want to risk anything further, but we’ll see where he’s at the end of the day,” Pederson said.

Savage, who signed a three-year, $21.8 million free-agent deal with the Jaguars in March, tallied two defended passes in his debut with Jacksonville, against Miami in Week 1.

Starting offensive tackle Cam Robinson (knee) and running back Tank Bigsby (shoulder) are slated to play in Week 3, per Pederson.

Ryan Nielsen looking forward to Jaguars DB Darnell Savage Jr.’s return

Following the versatile defensive back’s Week 2 absence due to a quadriceps injury, Jacksonville defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen is looking forward to having starting safety Darnell Savage Jr. back on game day.

Savage, who signed a three-year, $21.8 million free-agent deal with the Jaguars in March, experienced his injury in practice last Thursday, leading him to be ruled out against the Browns on Friday. He returned to practice in a limited fashion this week.

“Having him back, now we’ve got another guy out there who’s a good player and allows some other guys to free up in personnel packages and do things like that,” Nielsen explained on Friday.

“So, we never want to lose a guy for a game or two games or whatever it is, but happy to have him back and get him back into the role and routine of playing football and we’ll see him out there on Monday.”

Nielsen’s comment follows that of Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson, who on Thursday expressed that “hopefully” Savage will be available for Jacksonville’s Week 3, Monday Night Football matchup with Buffalo.

Although his sample size in the Jaguars’ defensive scheme is limited to one game, Savage has already emerged as a valuable, multi-positional contributor under Nielsen.

Savage logged snaps at four different defensive positions in various alignments during Week 1 against Miami: 25 as a slot cornerback, 11 as a free safety, 11 as a box safety and two as an outside linebacker.

Savaged recorded two defended passes and, according to Pro Football Focus, allowed two receptions over five targets for four yards against the Dolphins.

While he is eager to see Savage back in action, Nielsen commended rookie Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones for his performance in place of the starter against the Browns. Jones took the field for 57 snaps defensively in Week 2, exclusively as a slot corner.

“You always want to have good players, and he’s a good player. But last week didn’t feel like — you know, next man up, and Jarrian went out there and he performed pretty well,” Nielsen said. “As well as the group, thought we covered really well last week.”

Although Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson completed 64.7% of his passes against Jacksonville in Week 2, the Jaguars limited the quarterback to 186 passing yards with no touchdowns scored through the air.

Jones, the Jaguars’ third-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft, allowed three receptions over four targets for 26 yards to Browns pass-catchers, per PFF.