The Jaguars will attempt to simplify the AFC playoff picture without being at full strength Sunday.
Their best cornerback (Rashean Mathis), wide receiver (Mike Sims-Walker), and defensive tackle (John Henderson) were all listed as doubtful on the injury report Friday.
Michael C. Wright of the Florida Times-Union writes that the team doesn’t want to risk further injury to Mathis, who practiced on a limited basis Friday. Sims-Walker hurt his calf in practice Wednesday, and “Big John” Henderson hurt his shoulder during last week’s win over Houston.
“We’re gonna do the best we can do with the players we have available,” Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said about a matchup sage Jacksonville sportswriter Vito Stellino called “biggest home game in a decade against an in-state rival.”.
The Jaguars have a limited receiving corps, so the loss of Sims-Walker is immense. He’s their only true vertical threat and leads the team in receiving scores (6) and yards (752) by wide margins.
Henderson is a key to the team’s solid rush defense, which will be tested against Ricky Williams.
The Jaguars will win a large measure of that ever-elusive and meaningless “respect” if they can pull this one off now.
owww owww. Im howling after hearing this beautiful news. Ricky is gonna run all over the jags and lead my fantasy team and the dolphins into victory
A recap of the entire list:
Rashean Mathis – DOUBTFUL
Mike Sims-Walker – DOUBTFUL
John Henderson – DOUBTFUL
Jaguars Fans – QUESTIONABLE
Los Angeles Jaguars – PROBABLE
This sucks on so many levels. Since my Steelers have virtually eliminated themselves from playoff contention, if I had my preference of wildcards, it would be the Dolphins and Jags. (Actually, I’d like to see the Dolphins take that division.) Not a bandwagon fan–it’s still about the Steelers for me. Want the Dolphins to do well because of Porter. Want the Jags to do well because Del Rio is a Class Act and showed it when playing the Steelers during their last post-SB meltdown. Very sorry to see the Jags will be without their top three. Good luck to both teams.
Deb:
All due respect – I usually like your posts here – but you don’t get to choose another team when yours is eliminated.
In fact, that’s why you are unable to choose.
Rememer, if you choose not to choose, you have made a choice.
This is the NFL all three will see playing time.
@Pudge Heffelfinger:
Dude, get a life, job or both. I’ve never understood people who sit in front of their computer and actually waste thier time manipulating words trying to be a comedian with the same old moving to L.A. jokes over and over and over. Get some new material and try again.
Horrible injuries. Not looking good so far. Rashean is and has been the main blow. Torry Holt, Mike Thomas and hopefully Nate Hughes can hold the fort down on offense. Hopefully Tyron Brackenridge can do his thing again in place of Mathis. Big game, no excuses.
How can you sell out a game with those top players missing?
Pudge – LOL that was the comment of the YEAR!!
@Nobe …
I’m not choosing another team!! LOL My poor breaking heart still belongs to Pittsburgh. I’m just saying that if someone other than Pittsburgh has to go to the playoffs, I’d rather it be Miami and Jacksonville than, say, other teams I really really don’t like.
All players on IR are required to buy tickets!!!
Cry me a river Jags fans….
The dolphins LOST FOR THE YEAR our number one RB, our number three running back and punt returner, our starting QB (Pennington) AND we don’t even have a #1WR
So suck it up, see you on Sunday.
@ Jag
Sorry buddy you have to KNOW by now after so many black outs that your team is moving. Everyone else in the NFL does. Your fans are putrid and non existent to allow it to happen. Maybe you should come on over and be a Dolphins fan, its just down the road! (a lot closer than LA)
Deb, in order for Miami to make it, they have to beat the Jags. If Miami were to lose on Sunday, the odds of them making the playoffs would have to be, unscientifically, about .02%.
Deb – I don’t think there’s a problem with favoring another team. My team is obvious, but when my team isn’t playing I have other teams I enjoy watching. It’s all good.
In my opinion this is the make-or-break game for the Jags. Their season hangs on this game, and they seem to be “resting” and taking “extra precaution” with some players. I don’t know if that’s the smartest strategy when a game of this importance is on the line. If the injuries are serious, then call them that and don’t say they are “resting”.
All the news this week has me thinking the Dolphins are going to have an advantage here.
@Chappy
Talk to me next year. If this is a problem next year and the year after, then MAYBE they will move. Obviously you guys know nothing of the NFL teams blackout history. Jax was 19th out of 32 teams in attendance last year(look it up) and has never had problems selling tickets in the past. One bad year equates moving a franchise. So yeah, you’re right. Why wait let’s just move them now, screw it. Dude you gotta stop reading PFT and listening to Florio so much and get other news sources, seriously.
But in all honestly I don’t mind the Dolphins. If they make a playoff push and the Jags are eliminated, I’ll be pulling for the Phins. Gotta support the state. Go Jags!!!!!
@ftomeo … I know. That’s why I said it sucks on so many levels
@TexasPHINSfan … Here’s my wacky playoff logic:
Obviously as a Steelers fan, I’d like the Ravens to join us on the sofa come Jan. We can make room for the Broncos as well. And I’d be thrilled if our longtime nemeses the Pats wound up in the La-Z-Boy. Hey, it’s not outside the realm of possibility! That leaves the Jets, Jags, and Fins. Nothing against the Jets, but you know I still have a lot of Steeler love for Porter … which is opposite the feeling Steeler fans have for Rex Ryan. And I hold Jack Del Rio in high regard for being respectful to us when we were down in ’06. So there you go.
Now if we somehow find our mojo and get back in this thing, all that goes out the window. But mathematically, we’re not in a good place even if we regroup.