2022 NFL Team Injury Preview: Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville Jaguars - SIC Score 89.8

2021 record: 3-14 | 2022 FanDuel O/U win total: 6.5 

Everyone in Jacksonville wants to forget about the Jaguars’ 2021 season. It was a season plagued by controversy and poor play on the field.

Head coach Urban Meyer was fired after just 13 games into his first year in Jacksonville. The firing came after a number of incidents that began just a month after Meyer’s hiring. 

With all of that off-the-field action, the Jaguars finished 3-14 on the year. The team averaged 14.9 points per game while allowing their opponents to score 26.9 points per game. The defense also gave up 366.9 yards per game, finishing 20th in the league. 

Jacksonville looks to turn things around with second-year quarterback and 2021 first overall pick Trevor Lawrence. It was a disappointing first season for the former Clemson quarterback who finished the year with a 59.6 completion percentage, 17 interceptions, 12 touchdowns and 3,641 yards. 

Lawrence is not entirely to blame. He was without his former Clemson teammate Travis Etienne Jr. for the entire season after he suffered a Lisfranc injury during the preseason. 

Wide receiver D.J. Chark only started in four games before fracturing his ankle. Starting running back James Robinson was hindered by injuries all season, including an Achilles tear that ended his season. Inconsistency at receiver did not help Lawrence either.

The Jaguars’ front office used the offseason to add more weapons for the second-year quarterback. They signed wide receiver Christian Kirk to a 4-year, $72 million dollar deal along with wide receiver Zay Jones. Guard Brandon Scherff also joins the Jaguars from the Commanders. In his seven years in the league, he has only allowed 11 sacks, according to PFF.

The defense includes a mix of newly added veterans along with youthful starters. The starting linebacker corps is primarily made up by rookies. 

Overall, the Jaguars are a young team without an extensive injury history aside from the running back room. 

Travis Etienne Jr. - SIC Score 81

Etienne is expected to be healthier than third-year running back Robinson. He was a participant at OTAs though he was not as dynamic, according to practice video. He should be good-to-go by the start of the season and ready to become a receiving threat out of the backfield. 

James Robinson - SIC Score 72

While Robinson is making his way back from the torn Achilles he suffered in December, he is not opening training camp on PUP list. The Docs said former Illinois State running back may need a “ramp-up” period before the season as it is a long recovery for such an injury. Rams running back Cam Akers was able to come back six months following his torn Achilles, but he clearly was not as explosive.