The Jacksonville Jaguars got a little breathing room on the injury front Thursday, and it came in the one spot they can least afford to be thin.
Safety Eric Murray moved from non-participant on Wednesday to limited participation, a clear step forward as he works through the NFL’s concussion protocol. That upgrade gives the Jaguars a real shot at having him available Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles in London.
Murray left Week 4’s win over the Cincinnati Bengals after missing a good chunk of the second half, and Jacksonville had to adjust on the fly after Caleb Ransaw was also hurt. If Murray can suit up, the Jaguars’ secondary gets much closer to whole.
“Eric means a lot to us. Eric is one of the guys you would kind of put him in a classification of he's a coach on the field," Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile said on Thursday.
"You guys probably know that from being at practice. He's just really good communicator, knows the ins and outs of the defense and can kind of see problems before they start on the field.
He's been great that way all the way through, the entire season last season, the beginning of this season."
That kind of presence matters even more because Murray and Jourdan Lewis are among the older voices in the defensive back room. If Murray can’t go, Jacksonville would likely be back to leaning on Rayuan Lane, with third-round rookie Jalen Huskey also in line for more work. Antonio Johnson filled that role when Murray was out last year, but Johnson is now a starter.
"Other guys, if they have to step up and do that, I have total confidence that they will, because we've really got a good bunch of communicators back there," Campanile said. "And that's one of the things we're always looking for at that position.
A guy who has position flexibility, one. And then two, smart guys, guys that love to play, that love to learn and obviously, know the ins and outs of all the calls, learn football.”
Elsewhere on the report, the list of limited Jaguars stayed the same from Wednesday: offensive tackle Cole Van Lanen (knee), cornerbacks Montaric Brown (hamstring), Jarrian Jones (foot), Jaylon Jones (hamstring), and Jourdan Lewis (hamstring), offensive tackle Anton Harrison (elbow), defensive tackle Davon Hamilton (foot), and defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (groin).
Running back LeQuint Allen (hip) and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (thumb) were full participants for the second straight day after being limited earlier in the season.
The Jaguars should have most of those players available for Week 5 against the Eagles, though Brown may not be a true game-time call until closer to Sunday.
In Other News...
Former Jaguars Pick Just Landed Back In The AFC South
The Texans dipped into the open market for some familiar AFC South help, adding linebacker Chad Muma, defensive back Jaden Davis and running back Deuce Vaughn to the practice squad as they work through injuries and depth concerns heading into their next game. For Jacksonville readers, Muma stands out as the former Jaguars draft pick now back in the division, a reminder of how quickly personnel can shuffle around this league this time of year.
Houston also is making a notable change on the sideline, with coach DeMeco Ryans saying he is resuming defensive play-calling duties. Between the roster moves and the shift in responsibility, the Texans are clearly trying to steady things on both sides of the ball, and Mumas addition gives them another experienced piece to sort through as they patch together their depth. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Get A Very Different Eagles Test In London
The Eagles arrive in London for Week 5 looking a lot different than the version the Jaguars saw on the schedule earlier in the year. Philadelphia has had meaningful roster turnover, with Lane Johnson retired and Cam Jurgens now in Baltimore, and that reshuffling has put extra pressure on a group that already has to adjust on the fly. For Jacksonville, it adds a layer of intrigue to a trip that was always going to test preparation and adaptability.
Willie Lampkin is expected to see more work as the Eagles sort through those changes up front, and the Jaguars will be watching closely to see how the matchup develops in a neutral-site setting. Trevor Lawrence and the offense have their own reasons to be encouraged entering the game, but this one feels less like a familiar NFC heavyweight showing up and more like a moving target the Jaguars will have to identify quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Trevor Lawrence Gets A Huge Chance To Flip Jaguars-Eagles Script
Trevor Lawrence has given the Jaguars enough reason to believe this matchup can look different from the usual script when Philadelphia comes to town in Week 5. Jacksonvilles quarterback has played well this season, and the teams run defense has been one of the steadier parts of the operation, giving the Jaguars a chance to lean into the kind of complementary football that travels well against a contender.
Philadelphia brings its own issues into the game, including injuries and some turnover up front on the offensive line, which could make life a little less comfortable than usual for the Eagles. From Jacksonvilles perspective, that opens the door for the defense to keep doing its job and for Lawrence to have one of those games that changes how a matchup feels before it is over. [Read more 🡒]