In only eight games, Aaron Kampman had transformed himself into the leader of the Jaguars defense, not to mention their best defensive lineman.
Jacksonville will have to move on without him after learning that Kampman suffered a torn ACL at practice Thursday, ending his season. Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio announced the move at his Friday press conference. Kampman’s career in Green Bay ended with a torn ACL to his other knee, and he made a quick recovery to play well for the season’s first eight games.
It’s a crushing blow for the beleaguered Jaguars defense. They have struggled to consistently pressure the passer, and will now have to turn back to recently benched former first-round pick Derrick Harvey. Kampman also represents a huge investment by the organization, which had been paying off. He received a $10 million signing bonus on a four-year deal.
In a deep AFC playoff picture, both the Jaguars and Texans can’t afford to fall to 4-5 on Sunday. We seriously doubt Jacksonville can make a second half run because of their tough schedule, and this news will only make their task tougher.