Jake Ryan injury highlights Jaguars linebacker depth issues

The Jacksonville Jaguars got on the field on Thursday morning for the start of 2019 training camp, but a day prior they announced a few roster moves, which included placing veteran linebacker Jake Ryan on the non-football injury list. Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone mentioned Ryan in his initial press conference before the team took the field, stating that he suffered a set back in his ACL recovery but it would not require surgery.

While the blow to Ryan specifically isn’t a huge hit for the Jaguars, it’s kind of a death by one thousand cuts type of things to the team’s linebacker group. At the end of the 2018 season it was a group with a lot of promise in the starting roles with Telvin Smith, Myles Jack and Leon Jacobs. You thought you were just fine there and it would be a good opportunity to add depth and bolster the group.

Fast forward to the first day of training camp in 2019 and Myles Jack is out with an illness (he’s back, today), Telvin Smith is on the did not report/retired list after announcing he’d be sitting out at least the 2019 season for reasons and Ryan is on the PUP list with a set back from his ACL tear.

Jack being out with an illness isn’t an issue itself, but it did shine the spotlight on how dire the depth at the linebacker position is for the Jaguars and something that will seriously need to be address this next offseason with some young players.

Thankfully for the Jaguars, they have a great front four and their defensive backs include the best corner duo in the NFL, so they can carry a weak overall linebacker unit.