Jaguars Catch Another Break With Joe Burrow's Season-Ending Injury

The Jacksonville Jaguars have caught some big breaks since their 34-3 loss to the San Francisco 49ers last Sunday.

The loss to the 49ers dropped the Jaguars to 6-3 and just one game ahead of the Houston Texans in the AFC South, making the next eight games critical in every aspect.

Since Sunday, though, the Jaguars have seen two opposing starting quarterbacks ruled out with season-ending injuries: first, Cleveland Browns starter Deshaun Watson was knocked out for the year with a shoulder injury. Then on Friday, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was ruled out with a wrist injury, ruling him out for Monday Night Football in Week 13.

“It’s not a fluke," Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said on Friday about quarterback injuries increasing throughout the NFL.

"Defensive rushers are getting faster, leaner, quicker. I also think you’re seeing injuries at offensive line, so you’re playing sometimes your second, third or even fourth guy that doesn’t have, and it’s nothing against them, they just don’t have that experience obviously. We know it’s a violent sport, we try to do everything we can by rule, number one, and by protection to protect the quarterback. Sometimes they’re going to be exposed, especially when they’re runners or they’re mobile and can move around. You don’t ever want to see it, it can definitely affect your team moving forward.”

The Jaguars' final eight games will now include the following quarterbacks:

Will Levis twice.
C.J. Stroud.
Jake Browning.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson/P.J. Walker.
Lamar Jackson.
Baker Mayfield.
Bryce Young.

There are two quarterbacks on this list who should scare the Jaguars: Stroud, who had a big day against their defense in Week 3, and Jackson, who is consistently one of the NFL's most dangerous offensive players.

Otherwise, the Jaguars get two games against an aggressive and mistake-prone rookie quarterback who is behind a backup offensive line, two backups (one of whom could be a rookie), a journeyman quarterback, and one of the NFL's worst current starting quarterbacks in Young.

The Jaguars' second-half schedule started as daunting, in large part because the Jaguars' first-place schedule meant having to face teams like the San Francisco 49ers. With two different injuries happening at quarterback this week, though, the Jaguars could be catching a lucky break at the right time.

“One of the things as we get better as a football team and the more wins that we get piled up here, you’re going to play better opponents. That’s just the nature of the league and we’re seeing that," Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said this week.

"We’re seeing better defenses, we’re seeing better fronts, got another one this week with a really good front and they can get after a passer. Trevor’s got to understand that, number one, whether that means getting through his progressions a little bit faster, we have to do a better job up front. Our backs are involved with protections, tight ends. It’s a collective effort, I do think sometimes when you get hit the number of times as a quarterback, it can affect your eyes. Your eyes can drop and focus on the rush to touch. The one thing about Trevor that he’s really good at is continuing to keep his eyes down the field. We’ve got to continue to coach him and help him, and make sure he feels as comfortable as possible.”

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