Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Marqise Lee will be out for the season after suffering a knee injury this past Saturday, Aug. 25.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a team on the rise in the NFL, but they may have a major obstacle to overcome. Starting wide receiver Marqise Lee has been ruled out for the season. Lee, a 2014 second-round draft pick in 2014 out of USC, injured his knee in a preseason matchup against the Atlanta Falcons that occurred this past Saturday, Aug. 25. While any blow to a starter on your team is something unwarranted, Lee’s production-and potential will be missed.
Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone stated he was “comfortable” with the remaining receivers on the roster. According to Pro Football Talk:
Lee’s loss comes a little more than five months after he signed a four-year contract to remain with the team that made him a 2014 second-round pick. He caught 56 passes for 702 yards and three touchdowns last season.
Dede Westbrook, Keelan Cole, Donte Moncrief and second-round pick D.J. Chark remain on hand for the Jaguars. Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reports that Marrone said he was “comfortable” with the current group of receivers when asked if the team would consider signing Dez Bryant.
While comfortable is an appropriate word, the loss of Lee will be a blow for a team who now lack a true star receiver. The Jaguars are already preconceived as a defensive-oriented, ball-control team. Although Lee isn’t a superstar by definition, he is the team’s best receiving threat outside of Keelan Cole. Last season, Lee’s 56 catches led the team, and after signing a four year, $38 million dollar extension this past spring, the Jaguars were looking for Lee to further progress the Jaguars passing attack. While, yes, signing Dez Bryant is an option, most teams don’t want the prepackaged headache that comes with the former Dallas Cowboys star. To paraphrase Marrone, he’s pretty much good where he’s at with his receiver corps.
Thankfully, the Jaguars have Leonard Fournette, and a stellar defense to continue to rely upon. Fournette reportedly is 223 pounds — 12 pounds down from his playing weight and is ready to shoulder the offense once again. But with the injury to Lee, the Jaguars as a whole must all step up.