The Jacksonville Jaguars finished their season with a huge 41-7 win against the Tennessee Titans. With that victory, they improved their record to 13-4 and won the AFC South division. The team also locked in the No. 3 seed for the playoffs. Jacksonville ended the year on an eight-game winning streak and hit 13 wins for the first time since 1999.
The Jaguars are set to host the No. 6 seed Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round on Sunday, but concern is already building among fans after the team released its first injury report of the week. With a high-stakes playoff matchup looming, the absence of a regular player can deal a significant blow to the Jaguars
According to ClutchPoints, cornerback Jarrian Jones did not practice on Wednesday. The second-year player was marked as DNP because of an illness. Two other defensive backs, Greg Newsome and Montaric Brown, were limited in practice due to shoulder and neck issues.
Operation Sports App
Your ultimate companion for sports gaming. Access in-depth coverage, thoughtful discussion, and a community built around the games—and sports—you love.
Your ultimate sports gaming companion.
Jones’ absence comes at the worst possible time for Jacksonville’s defense
Even though Wednesday was just a walkthrough and the injury report is an estimate, the situation needs attention. Jacksonville’s secondary already suffered a big loss when Jourdan Lewis had season-ending surgery earlier this year.
Lewis signed a three-year, $30 million contract before the season started. The Jaguars have missed his leadership on the field since he got hurt. Jones and Newsome have stepped up well in his place, but the team still has weaknesses in pass defense. In situations like these, coaches often need to manage their emotions during crucial moments to keep the team focused.
Jacksonville finished with the best run defense in the league, giving up only 85.6 yards per game on the ground. However, they rank 21st against the pass, which makes them more vulnerable through the air.
Jones, who was picked in the third round of the 2024 draft, has gotten better this season. The Florida State product earned a 78.7 coverage grade and 78.4 overall grade in 2025, ranking fifth-best among all defensive backs. The team really needs him healthy with Josh Allen and the Bills coming to town.
The Jaguars pulled off a historic turnaround this season. After going 4-13 last year, rookie head coach Liam Coen led them to their best record in 26 years. Jacksonville became only the third team in NFL history to win 13 games one season after losing 13 the year before. Sometimes dream matchups don’t happen as planned, but this team made their comeback dream a reality. The 2025 New England Patriots also did it this year, joining the 1999 Indianapolis Colts.
Published: Jan 8, 2026 04:30 pm