The Jacksonville Jaguars will be without one of their defensive anchors this Sunday, as defensive tackle Arik Armstead has officially been ruled inactive for the Week 13 clash against the Tennessee Titans.
Armstead’s absence comes as a late development. He was added to the injury report Saturday evening with a hand injury and listed as questionable.
That was a surprising turn, considering he had no injury designation earlier in the week. He wasn’t on Wednesday’s report at all, was limited in Thursday’s practice, and then returned as a full participant on Friday.
But by Sunday, he was seen warming up with a white cast or wrap on his left hand - a sign that things weren’t trending in the right direction.
And make no mistake: this is a significant blow for a Jaguars defense that’s leaned heavily on Armstead’s presence up front. Over the last three games, he’s been a disruptive force - racking up 16 pressures and two sacks.
That’s not just productive; it’s elite. In that span, he leads all defensive tackles in pressures.
For the season, he ranks fourth at his position in sacks. He’s been the engine of Jacksonville’s interior pass rush, consistently collapsing pockets and creating chaos for opposing quarterbacks.
Without him, the Jags will need to rely on a rotation of DaVon Hamilton, Dawuane Smoot, and Maason Smith to hold down the middle. Matt Dickerson is also expected to take on a bigger role in the defensive line rotation.
It’s a tough ask, especially considering the Titans’ offense is built to take advantage of any cracks in the defensive front. Armstead’s ability to command double teams and still generate pressure has been a big part of Jacksonville’s recent defensive success. Now, it’ll be up to the rest of the interior line to step up and keep that momentum going.
The Jaguars are still in the thick of the playoff race, and every snap matters. Losing a player of Armstead’s caliber - even for a game - is more than just a lineup change. It’s a challenge to the depth, chemistry, and resilience of this defense.