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Announced yesterday, the Jaguars placed 2020 free-agent signee running back Chris Thompson on the team’s reserve/injured list with a back injury. The team also re-signed defensive lineman Caraun Reid to the practice squad.
Thompson, 30, signed with the Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent earlier this spring and was expected to play a major role in offensive coordinator Jay Gruden’s offense as a third-down receiving back. On the year, Thompson caught 20 passes for 146 yards in eight games. He ran the football just seven times for 20 yards.
With Thompson now out for at least three weeks as the season gets another game into the second half of the year, the Jaguars will have to look towards RB James Robinson, who has quickly cemented himself as one of the top running backs in the NFL, and the bellcow for the Jaguars offense this year.
On the year, Robinson has rushed the football 155 times for 689 yards (4.4 yards-per-attempt), which ranks fifth in the NFL as of today and five touchdowns. He has also caught the football 29 times for 228 yards and two touchdowns. His total yards from scrimmage of 917 yards is the most yards from scrimmage from an undrafted rookie through nine games.
While Robinson will clearly continue to be the workhorse running back for the team, the Jaguars will have to hope other players can step up as his backup. Currently on the roster, the Jaguars have Dare Ogunbowale and Devine Ozigbo. Ogunbowale has seen action a few times in games this season, while Ozigbo has received zero offensive snaps, dealing with a hamstring injury all season.
Ozigbo did not practice at all last week, and the team has given no indication whether or not he will begin practicing this week as the Jaguars are set to face off against the Pittsburgh Steelers at home on Sunday.
Currently, the team has just one running back on its practice squad, undrafted rookie running back Nathan Cottrell. If Ozigbo is unable to go this week, expect the team to make some sort of roster move, whether to bring Cottrell to the active roster or sign a running back as Thompson’s replacement.