The Jacksonville Jaguars are bracing for a major loss in the middle of their defense. Defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton is expected to miss the rest of the season after leaving Sunday’s win over the Colts on a cart with an injury.
According to Ian Rapoport, Hamilton suffered a torn quad. Rapoport also said, "He's expected to be out for the season," and added that Hamilton will have more tests on Monday.
That absence hits Jacksonville hard. Hamilton has been a key piece of the Jaguars’ run defense, doing plenty of work that never shows up in the box score. His job is often the dirty one: clogging space, absorbing blocks, and letting teammates clean things up around him.
He also matters beyond the trenches. After the game, Liam Coen spoke about what Hamilton means to the team and how he handled the injury in the moment.
"He's out there laying down and he's reassuring me," Liam Coen said of Hamilton after the game. "That's who he is.
He has a smile on his face, actually. He trusts God.
He trusts himself. He trusts life.
He's just one of those types of people. It's tough to see that, obviously.
Really tough. We have to evaluate what it truly is."
The injury could also affect Jacksonville’s plans before the trade deadline. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that, "The belief in league circles is Jacksonville has been looking for interior DL help at the deadline. That need only amplifies with Hamilton out."
With Hamilton sidelined, the Jaguars are left searching for answers in the interior of their defense.
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Jaguars Move Fast After Davon Hamilton Injury But Bigger Question Remains
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Johnsons arrival helps plug an obvious hole, but it may not be the only move Jacksonville makes at the position. The Jaguars are expected to keep evaluating defensive tackle options in the coming weeks, a sign that Hamiltons absence could push the team to keep searching for more help up front. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Suddenly Have A Division-Shifting Problem The Colts Will Watch
DaVon Hamiltons season-ending torn quad leaves the Jaguars with a real problem in the middle of their defense, and it comes at a time when every AFC South game feels loaded with extra weight. Hamilton has been a key part of Jacksonvilles interior defensive line, so losing him doesnt just thin out the rotation - it changes how the front has to hold up against the run and push the pocket.
The timing also puts Jacksonville on the clock before the NFL trade deadline, with the team now expected to look for help at defensive tackle. For the Colts, and everyone else watching the division race, it is the kind of injury that can ripple beyond one roster spot and force a team to make a move it may not have planned on making this soon. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Just Caught A Huge Break In Week 9
The Jaguars head into Week 9 with a chance to take advantage of a Baltimore team suddenly in a difficult spot. Jacksonville is 5-2 and sitting atop the AFC South after flattening the Colts, and the matchup now looks even friendlier with the Ravens dealing with major quarterback uncertainty. Lamar Jackson is expected to go on injured reserve after hurting his thumb in Week 8, and Tyler Huntley is also banged up, leaving Baltimore in line to lean on a depth chart that could get very thin in a hurry.
For Jacksonville, that kind of break matters in a crowded AFC race, especially with Trevor Lawrence steering an offense that has played well alongside a defense that has been among the leagues best by EPA per play. The Jaguars have earned their strong position, but the timing of this opponents injuries gives them a real opening to keep momentum rolling and protect their place in the division. [Read more 🡒]