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Jacksonville Jaguars

Rapid Recap – No Fournette, no problem-Jaguars roll to playoffs

Ari Russell

Published

2 years ago

on

(USA Today - Kim Klement)

The Jacksonville Jaguars entered into Sunday’s contest against the Houston Texans without their star rookie RB Leonard Fournette due to a banged up thigh 

The Jags were looking to clinch their first playoff birth since 2007 with a win against their AFC South Rival, and boy, did they ever come out for this one. In the first quarter they would score off a 13 play 78 yard drive When Tommy Bohanon would punch it in from one yard out to take the 7-0 lead.

The second quarter is where Jacksonville really stepped on the gas. Blake Bortles would toss three TD passes two of which the unheralded Jaydon Mickens was the target. Here’s the one that made it 21-0:

 

Add a Josh Lambo field goal, another score and the Jags took a commanding 31-0 halftime lead. So it looked like the decade absence from the playoffs was already settled at the half.

The Jaguars were able to hold the lead during the second half, which with their defense was to be expected. They would close out with a 45-7 impressive win.

The Jags with the win still sit alone the AFC South standings. If they hold serve down the stretch here they will at least get to host a playoff game. They still have a shot at a first round bye depending on how the Patriots and Steelers do to close out the season

One important thing to note is that the Jags are now 3-0 without Leonard Fournette. Also it can’t be stated enough about the way Blake Bortles has been playing. He is having the best stretch of his career during this three game win streak. He’s proving to step up in the part of the season where it really matter. You can tell that his command of the offense is much more settled in that it was in that wild win against the Chargers in week 10.

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Ari Russell

Born in the Nation’s Capital, Washington D.C., Ari Russell watched the rise of the 1980’s Miami Hurricanes and knew that he had to be part of the “U” someday. After graduating from Coral Gables, Ari rose through the ranks of the former XM Satellite Radio and then Sirius/XM as college football executive producer. He later spent 2 seasons as the publisher of the website “Beyond U Sports” focusing on major college football/basketball. Ari brings a great perspective on everything Miami, including the Dolphins to F.F.I.

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Jacksonville Jaguars

Jags WR Marqise Lee returns to practice

Abbey Radeka

Published

5 days ago

on

August 17, 2019

By

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

After losing veteran Alfred Blue in the first half of the 24–10 Thursday night loss to the Eagles with an ankle injury, the Jaguars are looking for offensive depth. In some fortunate news, WR Marqise Lee is off of the PUP list and has begun practicing today, roughly one year after suffering from knee damage that sidelined him for the entire 2018 season.

Head coach Doug Marrone made the announcement before practice on Saturday.

First Coast news reporter Ben Murphy got a video of Lee at practice receiving a pass from QB Nick Foles.

Last year, Lee was injured in the first quarter of a preseason game against the Falcons. He was hit by reserve defensive back Damontae Kazee on this play after a reception.

Lee suffered a torn ACL and went on injured reserve missing the entire season.

Lee became more prominent in Jacksonville’s pass offense in 2017 with 56 catches for 702 yards and three TDs. The Jags are surely going to rely on him this season which could mean he’ll see the field a bit in their third preseason game to get him readjusted to competitive game play.

However, they might not want to risk another potential injury before the season begins. We could see it going either way. We do know that he’ll be a great weapon for Nick Foles to utilize this season.

The return of Lee is coming off the heels of some other good news for the Jags announced earlier this week. Starting left tackle Cam Robinson was also removed from the PUP list on Monday after suffering a torn ACL in Week 2 last season. He has since made enough progress participate in some individual drills and should be ready, along with Lee, for their season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.

In other injury-related news, we await how serious Blue’s ankle injury is coming off this second preseason game. Meanwhile, the likelihood is that Leonard Fournette, backed up by Thomas Rawls, will be the two running backs when the Jaguars play at the Dolphins next Thursday night.

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Jacksonville Jaguars

Jaguars searching for RB depth after second preseason game

Florida Football Insiders

Published

6 days ago

on

August 16, 2019

By

Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

With preseason game number two in the books, it’s apparent the Jaguars have real issues with running back depth due to injury. This after veteran Alfred Blue left the first half of the 24 – 10 Thursday night loss to the Eagles with an ankle injury and did not return.

Blue carried the ball four times for just five yards has Jacksonville offense once again sputtered behind a makeshift offensive line. Coach Doug Marrone was so concerned about that line situation and their ability to protect/block that starting quarterback Nick Foles and running back Leonard Fournette never saw the field for a single play during Thursday night.

That means that veteran at Thomas Rawls (above Thursday) was called upon to carry the ball a little more, and he did so, seven times for 19 yards including a long run of 11 playing in the first half.

Rawls is a 5th year veteran who had some modest success with the Seahawks, including rushing for 830 yards his rookie year in 2015 with a 5.6 yard per carry average. His numbers tapered off in 2016 – 17 with ankle and foot injuries, as he only played in 21 games in those two years. Rawls was later released and picked up by the Bengals, but injured again last season, and never carried the ball in Cincinnati.

Obviously, the Jaguars are wanting to implement Fournette, as the primary ball carrier, but they will need someone else to spell him on a series or two. Also, Fournette has had durability questions, as he missed parts or all of eight games last year with a hamstring injury.

The Jags were also hoping to bring along Temple rookie running back Ryquell Armstead, but after he carried eight times for 22 yards last week, he suffered a concussion in the preseason opening loss to the Ravens. Armstead hasn’t practiced since, and is still being evaluated with no further update Thursday.

Speaking of updates, we await how serious Blue’s ankle injury is coming off this second preseason game. Meanwhile, the likelihood is that Fournette, backed up by Rawls, will be the two running backs when the Jaguars play at the Dolphins next Thursday night.

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