Big Cat Country
The 4-2 Jacksonville Jaguars head to London to face the 4-2 Los Angeles Rams, in the team’s inaugural international game under Liam Coen. On Friday, both teams released their final injury reports for the 9:30 am matchup at Wembley Stadium.
After leaving the Week 6 loss to the Seattle Seahawks early with a calf injury, Jacksonville linebacker Devin Lloyd was ruled out on Monday, with the team announcing he would not travel to the UK with the team as he recovers.
Lloyd, the September AFC defensive player of the month, has been the heart of the Jaguars’ early-season defense with a league-leading four interceptions, and most notably returned an interception 99 yards for a touchdown in the Week 5 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. In Lloyd’s absence, linebacker Ventrell Miller played 29 snaps in Week 6, landing second on the team in tackles with six.
The team also ruled out tight end Quintin Morris with a groin injury suffered in Week 6, leaving the tight end room again shorthanded. With Brenton Strange on Injured Reserve with a hip injury, Johnny Mundt and Hunter Long are currently the only tight ends on the 53-man roster at this time. While Morris did not have a heavy offensive presence in Week 6, playing just three offensive snaps, his presence in heavy, three tight end personnel and his special teams contributions will be missed.
Team captain and starting center Robert Hainsey will enter Sunday with no injury designation after missing week 6 with a hamstring injury suffered in the team’s Monday Night Football victory over the Chiefs. Hainsey practiced in full for the first time since his Week 5 injury on Thursday and Friday.
Defensive end Travon Walker also carries no injury designation after playing 16 defensive snaps last week while wearing the club over his left hand following wrist surgery. He is still expected to wear the club on Sunday, with the possibility of having it removed following the team’s Week 8 bye.
For Los Angeles, the Rams ruled their leading receiver, Puka Nacua, with an ankle injury originally suffered in the first half of the Rams’ Week 6 win over the Baltimore Ravens. With Los Angeles sharing a Week 8 bye with the Jaguars, the team may be, understandably, taking the cautious route with the star wide receiver’s health. With Nacua in and out of the lineup, due to injury, throughout their Week 6 matchup, Rams rookie seventh-round wide receiver Konata Mumpfield saw a season-high in snaps on offense against the Ravens in Nacua’s place (9), with Xavier Smith also getting 13.
Davante Adams and Tutu Atwell will both presumably receive larger target shares in the offense with Nacua ruled out.
LA also ruled out starting right tackle Rob Havenstein, who will miss his third consecutive game with an ankle injury suffered in their Week 4 win over the Indianapolis Colts. However, this may not be unusual for Sean McVay’s team, as the Rams...
