Jaguars vs. Jets Injury Report: Multiple Linebackers out, Westbrook expected to play
The 3-4 Jacksonville Jaguars are going to be without a few linebackers against the 1-5 New York Jets for Sunday's home game at TIAA Bank Field.
Three linebackers, to be exact, as Najee Goode (toe), Leon Jacobs (hamstring) and Quincy Williams (hamstring) have all been ruled out. Jacobs is the team's starting strongside linebacker, while Goode and Williams have each started games at weakside linebacker for Jacksonville's defense.
Due to the injuries at linebacker, the Jaguars were forced to reshuffle their roster a bit. They signed free agent linebackers Malcolm Smith and Donald Payne and promoted undrafted rookie linebacker Joe Giles-Harris from the practice squad to the active roster.
When it comes to Sunday's game, it appears either Smith or reserve linebacker Austin Calitro will start at weakside in Goode and Williams place, though nothing is set in stone.
“We’re going through it right now. It’s either going to be Austin [Calitro] or Malcolm [Smith]. We’re still working through that, just want to make sure we feel comfortable and everyone knows what they’re doing," head coach Doug Marrone said. "We feel comfortable [if] it’ll be Austin, we may split it. We’re still talking about it. We split the reps today, so just want to see where everybody is, really not sure right now.”
While the Jaguars have gotten bad injury news at linebacker, it is not all doom and gloom. Wide receiver Dede Westbrook, who has been limited in practice the last two weeks with a nagging shoulder injury, is listed as questionable but Marrone indicated he will be able to tough it out and play, just as he did last week vs. the Cincinnati Bengals.
“Yeah, I feel good," Marrone said about Westbrook. "I just think that if you don’t practice all week it’s better to put him as questionable. But I think he’ll play."
The full injury report for this weekends Jaguars-Jets game can be found below:
