Despite all of Jacksonville’s offseason changes with the most cap space in the league and 10 draft picks, the position group that saw the most continuity was the offensive line. The unit began the season with the same starting five as last season, but injuries have changed things a bit.
Ben Bartch has been starting since Week 5 as guard A.J. Cann, who struggled the most among the group, has been on injured reserve since. Further, the Jags lost center Brandon Linder and have had to start Tyler Shatley, while Cam Robinson couldn’t go against Buffalo last week, and the team started Walker Little at left tackle, instead.
Though Robinson’s injury shouldn’t impact his availability this week, it does go to show just how much injuries have impacted this offensive line. Still, it has fared alright this season, ranking 21st in Pro Football Focus’ offensive line rankings heading into Week 10.
21. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (NO CHANGE)
Best-graded: G Andrew Norwell | 75.0
Worst-graded: G A.J. Cann | 45.9
Jacksonville’s line has had to undergo some enforced changes this season and is now up to nine different players with at least 50 snaps. A.J. Cann has by far the lowest PFF pass-blocking grade (32.6) of the group, but he hasn’t played since Week 4. Andrew Norwell has allowed only five total pressures, and no sacks, on 344 pass-blocking snaps. There is likely a combination of players on this line that is better than the starting five that opened the season. The question is whether the Jaguars can stumble upon it as they go.
The group has been far from elite, but it has done a good job of opening holes on the ground for James Robinson and keeping rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence off his back. For a unit that was already very thin from a depth perspective and has had to manage a lot of injuries, that’s an impressive feat.
The play of Bartch especially has been helpful, as he’s outplayed Cann since entering as his replacement. Cann is a free agent after the season, and the play of Bartch in his absence may have sealed his fate as a Jaguar.
Meanwhile, the team has a difficult decision to make when it comes to Cam Robinson, but in his first extended action, Little held his own against the league’s No. 1 defense in the win over Buffalo. That certainly gives the team a lot more freedom when it comes to deciding whether to extend Robinson.
Overall, this unit still needs some work, but it’s been better than some anticipated, especially considering the bad injury luck. The Jags will hope to see the group continue to rise in these rankings as the season goes on.