The Jacksonville Jaguars face a challenge in their bid to maintain the lead in the AFC South, especially with the loss of safety Daniel Thomas. Here are the key points from the provided information:
1. **Injury to Daniel Thomas:**
The Jaguars placed safety Daniel Thomas on injured reserve after he broke his left forearm during the team’s 30-12 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Thomas, a former Auburn standout, had been a significant contributor on special teams and had played both on defense and special teams during the 2023 season.
2. **Thomas’ Contributions:**
In his fourth season with the Jaguars as a fifth-round draft pick, Thomas had played 14 defensive snaps and 243 special-teams plays in 15 games in 2023. Over his NFL career, he has accumulated 411 defensive snaps and 902 special-teams plays in 56 regular-season games.
3. **Jaguars’ Recent Performance:**
The Jaguars have faced a downturn, losing their last four games and dropping to an 8-7 record. This has led to a tie for the division lead in the AFC South with the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts. Despite the recent struggles, Jacksonville currently holds the AFC South lead for playoff seeding via tiebreakers.
4. **Remaining Schedule:**
With two weeks left in the regular season, the Jaguars are set to host the Carolina Panthers and visit the Tennessee Titans to close out their schedule.
5. **Other Player Transactions:**
In addition to Thomas, three other players from Alabama high schools and colleges were involved in NFL roster moves:
– The Arizona Cardinals released tight end John Samuel Schenker (Auburn) from their practice squad.
– The San Francisco 49ers released defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth (Murphy) from their practice squad.
– The Houston Texans placed Jimmie Ward (Davidson) on injured reserve due to a quadriceps injury.
In summary, the Jaguars face challenges in maintaining their lead in the AFC South, and the loss of Daniel Thomas, especially on special teams, is a significant setback. The team’s performance in the remaining games will play a crucial role in their playoff positioning.
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