Jacksonville Jaguars: Placed Key Defensive Starter on Injured Reserve Ahead of Week 4

The 0-3 Jacksonville Jaguars travel to Houston, Texas, to play against their divisional rivals, the 2-1 Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. The Jaguars hope to add their first win of the season after losing their first three games. They are 6.5-point underdogs, and the over/under is 45.5. Their defense will be shorthanded because one of their best players will not play.

The Jacksonville Jaguars leading tackler suffered an injury in their last game

Foyesade Oluokun exited the second quarter of their Monday night game with an apparent foot injury and did not return. Oluokun underwent tests and an MRI to determine the severity of the injury. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, tests determined on Tuesday that he is dealing with plantar fasciitis and would miss “several weeks.”

#Jaguars standout LB Foye Oluokun is expected to miss several weeks as he deals with plantar fasciitis, per sources.

No surgery needed and not a worst-case scenario. But Jacksonville is 0-3 and now will be without one of its best players for at least a few games. pic.twitter.com/egWiOQxHpp

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 24, 2024

Reporters asked Doug Pederson earlier in the week if he viewed Oluokun as an injured reserve candidate. Pederson didn’t think so.

“I don’t think so,” Pederson said Wednesday. “Not at this point.”

The Jacksonville Jaguars changed their tune

Foyesade Oluokun didn’t participate in Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday’s practice. The Jaguars ruled him out for Sunday’s game on Friday, and that’s not all. The Jaguars have placed Oluokun on injured reserve, and he will miss at least their next four games. The earliest he can return is Week 8 when they play against the Green Bay Packers.

Jaguars Announce Four Roster Moves, Place LB Foyesade Oluokun On Injured Reserve https://t.co/BIqssKgprQ

— NFLTradeRumors.co (@nfltrade_rumors) September 28, 2024

Who replaces him?

Doug Pederson told the media that second-year player Ventrell Miller will replace Foyesade Oluokun in the starting rotation. Miller missed the entire rookie season due to an Achilles injury sustained in their preseason finale. He returned just in time for OTAs and made the 53-man roster. Pederson has confidence in him.

“He’s done really well,” said Pederson. “He’s gotten valuable snaps. Played good the other night, played physical, you know? Obviously there’s some things we can clean up but he’s really done a nice job.”

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