The Jacksonville Jaguars return home for their biggest game of the season, hosting the Indianapolis Colts in a massive Week 14 divisional showdown. Both teams enter at 8-4, and the winner takes sole possession of first place in the AFC South.
The Jaguars are doing their division rival no favors on the injury front, either, as nearly every player is listed as questionable or unspecified going into tomorrow. Jacksonville is refusing to tip its hand on who is or is not playing for as long as possible. Even with all the uncertainty, it is reasonable to assume that most of the players listed as questionable or unspecified will suit up, considering how important this matchup is.
WR Parker Washington
Hip
Parker Washington is listed as questionable and was limited throughout the week after missing Wednesday entirely. If the team has any confidence that he can handle a full gameday workload, he will suit up for the biggest matchup of the season. When healthy, Washington serves as an explosive WR3 who can break open a game at any moment and provides one of the best punt return skill sets in the league.
If Washington cannot play, the Jaguars will have to lean more heavily on Jakobi Meyers and Brian Thomas Jr. to carry the passing game, while Austin Trammell would handle punt return duties.
OL Chuma Edoga
Calf
Chuma Edoga was limited all week and carries an unspecified game status, but he is expected to play. Edoga provides valuable insurance along the offensive line if an emergency arises. Even if active, the hope is that he can remain on the sideline as the starting unit holds up throughout this critical contest.
If Edoga unexpectedly misses this game, the Jaguars will be dangerously thin along the line after already losing Walker Little, leaving them stretched extremely thin on depth.
OL Walker Little
Concussion
Walker Little is officially out for Week 14 after suffering a concussion against the Titans last Sunday. Losing their starting blindside protector is a major blow for the Jaguars offense at the worst possible time. Cole Van Lanen is expected to take over at left tackle, but rookie Wyatt Milum also has significant experience at the position from his college career at West Virginia and could be called upon if needed.
The drop-off from Little to the replacements is substantial, as according to PFSN’s Player Offensive Line Impact Rankings, Van Lanen’s grade this year is over 12 points worse than Little’s. Jacksonville must find ways to protect Trevor Lawrence without their starter in the lineup for such a high-stakes divisional showdown.
OL Patrick Mekari
Concussion
Patrick Mekari is listed as unspecified but is almost certain to play after returning to full participation late in the week. Mekari will be eager to return to the field for this pivotal game, and the Jaguars would greatly benefit from having their starting right guard available.
If he were to miss the matchup, Wyatt Milum would be expected to fill in at right guard, further testing the Jaguars’ depth along the offensive line.
DT Arik Armstead
Hand
Arik Armstead was limited all week and is listed as questionable, but a hand injury is unlikely to keep a starting defensive tackle off the field for a game of this magnitude. Armstead is fully expected to suit up. His presence is crucial, as he anchors the defensive front and will be tasked with slowing down Jonathan Taylor and the Colts’ top-ranked rushing offense.
If Armstead is unable to go, the Jaguars’ defense would be at a major disadvantage, losing their best interior defender during a matchup that will demand physicality inside.
DL Danny Striggow
Knee
Danny Striggow is listed as unspecified with a knee injury, but he finished the week as a full participant and should be available. Striggow has become an important rotational edge defender in recent weeks, consistently setting the edge and providing timely pressure.
Should he miss the game, Jacksonville would be thin in its edge rotation and would need to rely more heavily on Josh Hines-Allen and Dennis Gardeck to handle a larger workload.
DE Travon Walker
Knee
Travon Walker is questionable with a knee injury that has sidelined him for the past two games, but all signs point to him returning for this massive divisional showdown. Walker was limited all week, but he has made it clear he intends to be on the field for his team.
If he plays, the Jaguars regain one of the league’s premier run-stopping edge defenders and a physical force opposite Hines-Allen. His presence would be a massive boost against Jonathan Taylor. If he cannot go, Gardeck would once again serve as the primary starter.
LB Devin Lloyd
Chest
Devin Lloyd is listed as unspecified but is fully expected to play after practicing in full this week. Lloyd has been battling a chest injury, but there is no question he will be available for the biggest game of the season.
The Jaguars need Lloyd at his best this Sunday, as he plays a central role in both stopping the run and handling the Colts’ layered passing concepts.
LB Foyesade Oluokun
Hamstring
Foyesade Oluokun is also unspecified but practiced fully and has no risk of missing the game. Jacksonville will have both members of its elite linebacker duo ready for this crucial divisional matchup.
Oluokun and Lloyd face one of their toughest assignments of the season, needing to slow down Jonathan Taylor while also covering star tight end Tyler Warren. Their play will have a major influence on whether the Jaguars can control this game defensively.
CB Jourdan Lewis
Neck
Jourdan Lewis is listed as unspecified but will unquestionably play. He was a full participant throughout the week and played last Sunday against Tennessee. Lewis will continue in his starting slot corner role, allowing Jarrian Jones to remain the fourth corner and rotate in as needed.
His availability stabilizes the Jaguars’ secondary against a Colts offense that relies on quick timing routes and heavy usage of underneath concepts.
S Eric Murray
Neck
Eric Murray is questionable with a neck injury but is nearly certain to play after being activated off injury reserve and logging full participation throughout the week. Murray is set to return in the biggest game of the season and should see the field for the first time since the Jaguars’ bye week.
Getting their veteran strong safety back is a significant development, especially in a matchup where communication and discipline on the back end will be essential.
S Andrew Wingard
Concussion
Andrew Wingard is officially out for Week 14. His absence is a tough blow, as Wingard had been playing some of the best football of his career recently, consistently making game-changing plays on defense and special teams.
With Wingard sidelined, Eric Murray and Antonio Johnson will take over the starting safety spots for this crucial divisional battle.
P Logan Cooke
Shoulder
Logan Cooke remains unspecified with a shoulder issue but will play on Sunday. If the Jaguars had any concerns about his availability, they would have brought in a replacement early in the week.
If Cooke were unavailable for any reason, kicker Cam Little would step in as the emergency punter, but that scenario is highly unlikely given the team’s confidence in Cooke.
LS Ross Matiscik
Back
Ross Matiscik is also unspecified, though he practiced all week despite dealing with a back injury suffered last Sunday. Matiscik is expected to play, which is crucial because Jacksonville has one of the best special teams trios in the league between Matiscik, Cooke, and Cam Little.
If Matiscik cannot go, defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton would serve as the emergency long snapper. The Jaguars demonstrated last week that they do not trust that scenario, as they avoided kicking whenever possible while Matiscik was sidelined.
