As the Jaguars roll into Week 2 of the preseason, the injury bug has officially set up camp in Duval County. What started as standard summer attrition has quickly spiraled into an unfortunate trend, particularly for an offense trying to continue its momentum from a season ago.
The headliner came Monday with the news that starting right guard Patrick Mekari underwent off-season back surgery and is expected to miss significant time. While the team remains hopeful he can contribute at some point this
season, his absence leaves a significant void in functional depth up front. Mekari’s news only compounds an offensive line group already feeling the strain after Chuma Edoga was carted off the field during the preseason opener, leaving the unit thin on reliable, experienced pieces to the puzzle.
Unfortunately for Jacksonville, the bad news didn’t stop in the trenches. The Times-Union’s Ryan O’Halloran reported a pair of fresh blows to the skill position groups following Monday’s session. Wide receiver Parker Washington was sidelined with an undisclosed injury and has already been ruled out for the remainder of the week. On top of that, second-year running back LeQuint Allen Jr. went down with a “soft tissue” issue serious enough for the staff to announce he will miss the rest of training camp entirely.
It’s a brutal stretch of luck for a team trying to establish operational continuity. What began as manageable bumps and bruises is now testing the roster’s functional depth before the games even count.
Here’s to hoping the training staff can stem the tide before Week 1.
How are you feeling about the Jags’ inury luck, Duval? Let us know in the comments!
