Jacksonville Jaguars lose 4 defensemen as CB Rashean Mathis returns for Baltimore Ravens game – NFL News
It is to be seen how Jacksonville Jaguars’ defence performs in an exhibition game against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday as the team is going into the game without four key defensive players – they are out of the side with respective injury scares.
Jaguars have confirmed they will be without linebacker Daryl Smith, guard Will Rackley, left tackle Eugene Monroe and cornerback Derek Cox.
It is pertinent to note here that all players are starters at their respective positions and their ousting can have a negative outfall on the performance of the defence in particular and overall performance of the team in general.
While they are set to miss this week’s game, there is no word from any official if they are going to be available for selection into the squad for the next one or about their respective recovery timelines.
As per details of the injury list, Smith suffered a groin problem earlier this month and is out on the sidelines since then. Rackley has been out of the side for a rather longer period after suffering a high ankle sprain last month.
The situation is not pleasant for Monroe as he is recovering from a concussion that he suffered only a week ago and can be out for a longer period. It is not sure if he is going to return this season at all.
Cox is also yet to report back to the squad since suffering a hamstring problem in the preseason opener earlier this month. He apparently is progressing well and can possibly be back well before the start of the season next month.
As Jaguars are expected to feel absence of these players, a good development for them is the availability of cornerback Rashean Mathis. He has not played any preseason game yet and is expected to make a start against Ravens this week.
Mathis is out of the side since tearing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee in November last year. He practised during this offseason. Both, the team and the player, were upbeat about his return for preseason phase but it was delayed due to
some unexpected injury related problems, which now appear to have been sorted out.
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