November 15, 2025 • 7 mins
Jacksonville Jaguars leading up to their game against the Los Angeles Chargers, noting that several key players, including Brenton Strange and Anton Harrison, are ruled out. This report specifies the injuries and likely replacements for the absent starters.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Deep Dive. Our mission today is pretty straightforward.
We're taking a standard NFL injury report and turning it
into actual strategic insight.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
You can use exactly. We're looking at the Jacksonville Jaguars
final report before their game.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
This Sunday, a big home game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
And you know this isn't just about reading names.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Off a list, No, not at all.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
The big headline is that the Jags have already ruled
out three starters in a key reserve. That's a huge
deal for a five and fourteen.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Is it forces a total shift in the game plan.
And when you look at an injury report like this,
it's not just about who is out, it's about where
they're out right, And this report, I mean, it's a
triple threat. It hits quarterback protection, it hits their secondary,
and it hits their offensive versatility. The Chargers know exactly
where to attack.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Okay, So let's get right into it. Let's unpack the names.
Four guys officially out.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Yeah, and this really puts their depth to the test.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
So first up, on the offensive line, they've lost their
starting right tackle, Anton Harrison's dealing with knee and ankle issues.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
That's the big one.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Then in the secondary, cornerback Jordan Lewis is out with
a neck injury. And then you have the tight end room,
which has just been I mean it's been gutted. Starter
Brenton Strange is out with a hip and quad and
the key reserve Hunter Long is sidelined too.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Right, So you're not patching one hole, You're trying to
patch three different holes at the same time.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Let's start with that offensive line. Losing Anton Harrison seems
like the most immediate problem.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Oh it is. It affects every single offensive play. And
losing him right before you have to face the Chargers
pass rush, that's well, that's a potential catastrophe.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
And we know who's stepping in. It's going to be
the reserve cole Van Lanen right and.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Vent Lane has some experience, but this is a whole
different level. We're talking about going up against guys like
Khalil Mack or Joey Bosa.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
So if you're the Chargers, you're just licking your chops.
You attack that side of the line all day, all.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Day, relentlessly. They'll test him with speed, they'll test him
with power. The Jags coaching staff knows this is coming.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Which means they have to change how they call plays.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
They have to. They will almost certainly have to keep
a running back or a tight end in to help
him to chip the edge rusher on passing downs.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
And the downside of that is pretty obvious.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
It is you take a potential receiver out of the play,
so your five man protection becomes a six man operation,
and suddenly your deep passing game gets a lot harder
to execute.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
So losing Harrison doesn't just cost them a blocker, it
could cost them a legitimate downfield threat on any given play.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Precisely, it's a numbers game at that point, and the
defense has the advantage.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
Okay, let's pivot to the other side of the ball,
that other big hole from a starter being out cornerback
Jordan Lewis.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Yeah, and this is the second game in a row
he's going to miss with that neck injury.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
And we should note Hunter Long, the tight end, is
also missing his second straight game. So these aren't just
one week.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Things, No, these are lingering issues.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
So at corner they're going back to Montark Brown, he
started last Sunday in Lewis's place, right.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
So at least there's some continuity there. He's not coming
and totally.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Cold, but having your backup play two straight weeks against
NFL receivers that definitely shows where your weak spot is.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
It does, but we have to look at it with
a bit of nuance. It's not just about whether Brown
is a downgrade. The real question is how he's different
from Lewis. Okay, Like, if Lewis is their best man
coverage guy and Brown is more of a zone corner,
then the Jags might be forced to play more zone defense.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
And the Chargers will know that.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
The Chargers will absolutely know that. They'll try to isolate him.
They'll use motion, they'll run route combinations designed to stress
a backup corners communication with the safety.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
So Jacksonville's defensive playbook gets a little bit smaller, a
little more predictable, exactly.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
It removes the element of surprise, and you're giving the
opposing quarterback a much clearer picture before the snap.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
All right, let's talk about that tight end room, because
losing two guys there seems especially painful.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
It's the unsung hero of an offense, right, the versatile
tight end, and they've lost their starter and their primary.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Backup especially when you need guys who can help block
for Van Lane and on that right side, and the
situation with the starter Brennan Strange is really telling.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
It really is. So Strange hasn't played in four games,
and earlier this week the team did something pretty optimistic.
They activated his twenty one day practice window.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Okay, so for anyone who doesn't know, that basically means
the team thinks he's close to returning from injured reserve.
It's a good sign.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
It's supposed to be a very good sign. But then
just a few days after doing that, they ruled him
out for Sunday. They said he needs at least another week.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Wow, So what does that tell you?
Speaker 2 (04:34):
It tells me one of two things. Either he had
a setback in practice or, and this is more likely
with hip and quad injuries, he just didn't have the
trust in his body. He couldn't show that explosive power
you need to play in an NFL game.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
So that initial optimism was premature, and it shows you
just how stubborn those lower body injuries.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Can be very stubborn. And it shows the team as look,
they're being smart, they're prioritizing his long term health. But
it hurts them a.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
Lot now, and when you pull the camera back from
these specific names, the overall picture is just it's staggering.
Our sources say the Jaguars had fifteen players show up
on the injury report this week. Fifteen fifteen. That's a
huge chunk of your active roster, that number fifteen.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
That's the real story here. I mean, that's the kind
of number you expect to see in like week seventeen,
not now. To have that many guys banged up at
this point in the season, it tells you that depth
of this team is being pushed to its absolute broking point.
You're not just relying on your second string guys anymore.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
You're pulling guys from special teams into key role exactly.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Guys who are maybe holding pads in practice a few
weeks ago now have to go out and execute against
the Chargers. The margin for air is basically zero, and with.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Those two tight ends out, that versatility is gone.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
It's completely gone. You can't run your two tight end sets,
especially near the goal line. It forces you to be predictable.
If you're always in a three receiver set, the defense
has a much better idea of whether you're.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Going to run or pass, And to make matters worse
on offense, there's one more name to watch. Receiver Brian
Thomas Junior is listed as questionable with an ankle injury. Yeah,
if you can't go, that's potentially another weapon gone for
Trevor Lawrence.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
And with a compromised offensive line, a diminished receiving corps
is the last thing you need. That TBD status on
Thomas is almost as important as the four guys who
are already out.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
So to sort of wrap this all up, the main
takeaway for you watching the Sunday is simple. The Jaguars
are severely undermanned, very.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
And the injuries are concentrated in really critical spots right tackle, cornerback,
and tight end.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
And as we've said, these aren't just minor things. Strange
missing four games Lewis and Long missing two Street it
points to a real mid season resilience test for this
whole organization.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
It really does. Their caution was strange, pulling him back
after activating his window. It shows they're trying to play
the long game, but that might cost them this game.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
What's the final thought for someone of track this weekend?
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Okay, here's the real deep dive for you. The question
to ask yourself while you watch is this, how does
relying on backups like Van Lanen and Brown actually change
the play calling? Watch and see are they keeping a
running back in to help Van Lanen on almost every
pass play? And on defense are they playing more zone
coverage to protect Brown? How those coaches adjust to these
(07:22):
injuries that will probably decide the entire game
Welcome to the Deep Dive. Our mission today is pretty straightforward.
We're taking a standard NFL injury report and turning it
into actual strategic insight.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
You can use exactly. We're looking at the Jacksonville Jaguars
final report before their game.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
This Sunday, a big home game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
And you know this isn't just about reading names.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Off a list, No, not at all.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
The big headline is that the Jags have already ruled
out three starters in a key reserve. That's a huge
deal for a five and fourteen.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Is it forces a total shift in the game plan.
And when you look at an injury report like this,
it's not just about who is out, it's about where
they're out right, And this report, I mean, it's a
triple threat. It hits quarterback protection, it hits their secondary,
and it hits their offensive versatility. The Chargers know exactly
where to attack.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Okay, So let's get right into it. Let's unpack the names.
Four guys officially out.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Yeah, and this really puts their depth to the test.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
So first up, on the offensive line, they've lost their
starting right tackle, Anton Harrison's dealing with knee and ankle issues.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
That's the big one.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Then in the secondary, cornerback Jordan Lewis is out with
a neck injury. And then you have the tight end room,
which has just been I mean it's been gutted. Starter
Brenton Strange is out with a hip and quad and
the key reserve Hunter Long is sidelined too.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Right, So you're not patching one hole, You're trying to
patch three different holes at the same time.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Let's start with that offensive line. Losing Anton Harrison seems
like the most immediate problem.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Oh it is. It affects every single offensive play. And
losing him right before you have to face the Chargers
pass rush, that's well, that's a potential catastrophe.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
And we know who's stepping in. It's going to be
the reserve cole Van Lanen right and.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Vent Lane has some experience, but this is a whole
different level. We're talking about going up against guys like
Khalil Mack or Joey Bosa.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
So if you're the Chargers, you're just licking your chops.
You attack that side of the line all day, all.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Day, relentlessly. They'll test him with speed, they'll test him
with power. The Jags coaching staff knows this is coming.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Which means they have to change how they call plays.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
They have to. They will almost certainly have to keep
a running back or a tight end in to help
him to chip the edge rusher on passing downs.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
And the downside of that is pretty obvious.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
It is you take a potential receiver out of the play,
so your five man protection becomes a six man operation,
and suddenly your deep passing game gets a lot harder
to execute.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
So losing Harrison doesn't just cost them a blocker, it
could cost them a legitimate downfield threat on any given play.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Precisely, it's a numbers game at that point, and the
defense has the advantage.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
Okay, let's pivot to the other side of the ball,
that other big hole from a starter being out cornerback
Jordan Lewis.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Yeah, and this is the second game in a row
he's going to miss with that neck injury.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
And we should note Hunter Long, the tight end, is
also missing his second straight game. So these aren't just
one week.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Things, No, these are lingering issues.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
So at corner they're going back to Montark Brown, he
started last Sunday in Lewis's place, right.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
So at least there's some continuity there. He's not coming
and totally.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Cold, but having your backup play two straight weeks against
NFL receivers that definitely shows where your weak spot is.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
It does, but we have to look at it with
a bit of nuance. It's not just about whether Brown
is a downgrade. The real question is how he's different
from Lewis. Okay, Like, if Lewis is their best man
coverage guy and Brown is more of a zone corner,
then the Jags might be forced to play more zone defense.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
And the Chargers will know that.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
The Chargers will absolutely know that. They'll try to isolate him.
They'll use motion, they'll run route combinations designed to stress
a backup corners communication with the safety.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
So Jacksonville's defensive playbook gets a little bit smaller, a
little more predictable, exactly.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
It removes the element of surprise, and you're giving the
opposing quarterback a much clearer picture before the snap.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
All right, let's talk about that tight end room, because
losing two guys there seems especially painful.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
It's the unsung hero of an offense, right, the versatile
tight end, and they've lost their starter and their primary.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Backup especially when you need guys who can help block
for Van Lane and on that right side, and the
situation with the starter Brennan Strange is really telling.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
It really is. So Strange hasn't played in four games,
and earlier this week the team did something pretty optimistic.
They activated his twenty one day practice window.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Okay, so for anyone who doesn't know, that basically means
the team thinks he's close to returning from injured reserve.
It's a good sign.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
It's supposed to be a very good sign. But then
just a few days after doing that, they ruled him
out for Sunday. They said he needs at least another week.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Wow, So what does that tell you?
Speaker 2 (04:34):
It tells me one of two things. Either he had
a setback in practice or, and this is more likely
with hip and quad injuries, he just didn't have the
trust in his body. He couldn't show that explosive power
you need to play in an NFL game.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
So that initial optimism was premature, and it shows you
just how stubborn those lower body injuries.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Can be very stubborn. And it shows the team as look,
they're being smart, they're prioritizing his long term health. But
it hurts them a.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
Lot now, and when you pull the camera back from
these specific names, the overall picture is just it's staggering.
Our sources say the Jaguars had fifteen players show up
on the injury report this week. Fifteen fifteen. That's a
huge chunk of your active roster, that number fifteen.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
That's the real story here. I mean, that's the kind
of number you expect to see in like week seventeen,
not now. To have that many guys banged up at
this point in the season, it tells you that depth
of this team is being pushed to its absolute broking point.
You're not just relying on your second string guys anymore.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
You're pulling guys from special teams into key role exactly.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Guys who are maybe holding pads in practice a few
weeks ago now have to go out and execute against
the Chargers. The margin for air is basically zero, and with.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Those two tight ends out, that versatility is gone.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
It's completely gone. You can't run your two tight end sets,
especially near the goal line. It forces you to be predictable.
If you're always in a three receiver set, the defense
has a much better idea of whether you're.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Going to run or pass, And to make matters worse
on offense, there's one more name to watch. Receiver Brian
Thomas Junior is listed as questionable with an ankle injury. Yeah,
if you can't go, that's potentially another weapon gone for
Trevor Lawrence.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
And with a compromised offensive line, a diminished receiving corps
is the last thing you need. That TBD status on
Thomas is almost as important as the four guys who
are already out.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
So to sort of wrap this all up, the main
takeaway for you watching the Sunday is simple. The Jaguars
are severely undermanned, very.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
And the injuries are concentrated in really critical spots right tackle, cornerback,
and tight end.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
And as we've said, these aren't just minor things. Strange
missing four games Lewis and Long missing two Street it
points to a real mid season resilience test for this
whole organization.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
It really does. Their caution was strange, pulling him back
after activating his window. It shows they're trying to play
the long game, but that might cost them this game.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
What's the final thought for someone of track this weekend?
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Okay, here's the real deep dive for you. The question
to ask yourself while you watch is this, how does
relying on backups like Van Lanen and Brown actually change
the play calling? Watch and see are they keeping a
running back in to help Van Lanen on almost every
pass play? And on defense are they playing more zone
coverage to protect Brown? How those coaches adjust to these
(07:22):
injuries that will probably decide the entire game
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Betrayal: Weekly
Betrayal Weekly is back for a brand new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack. And make sure to check out Seasons 1-4 of Betrayal, along with Betrayal Weekly Season 1.