Trevor Lawrence’s blind side protector, Anton Harrison, is officially done for the rest of the season. What started as a hopeful stint on injured reserve after Harrison was carted off the field in Week 5 against the Eagles in London, turned into a devastating diagnosis this week. Arthroscopic surgery on Thursday revealed Harrison had torn his ACL, a brutal blow for the Jaguars’ offensive line.
The Blind Side Just Got a Whole Lot More Vulnerable
This is a gut punch, plain and simple. Harrison, the No. 27 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, had moved from right tackle to left tackle this offseason, and while it was a bit of an up-and-down year for the 24-year-old in his new role,allowing three sacks and 12 pressures in just five games,losing your starting left tackle is always a massive problem. The team had him on IR, holding out hope for a return at some point this season, but the Thursday surgery confirmed the worst. You just hate to see it happen, especially when you’re hoping for a mid-season comeback.
Walker Little: The Next Man Up, Like It or Not
So, who steps into that critical role? Veteran swing tackle Walker Little took over for Harrison in Week 5 and started in his place against the Texans in Week 6. And credit where credit is due, Little performed ably against a ferocious Houston front, allowing no sacks and just two pressures in that game. That’s the good news. The bad news is this injury leaves the Jaguars absolutely paper-thin at tackle. Beyond Little and starting right tackle Cole Van Lanen, there’s nobody else on the active roster. They do have Geron Christian Sr. on the practice squad, but a starting job isn’t usually won there.
Coach Liam Coen, though, is putting on a brave face, saying “I have a lot of confidence” in Little. He even added, “I probably can’t overstate how important it is because we really are fortunate to not have to play a backup in a situation when a tackle goes down. I don’t look at Walker as a backup tackle or a backup guard.” And look, Little does have significant experience with 40 career starts. He was a second-round pick out of Stanford in 2021 and has started at least three games every year from 2021-25, including 14 starts last year, 12 of which were at left tackle. The catch? Last year he allowed 2.9 pressures per game, the second-highest rate among offensive linemen, gave up nine sacks, tied for third-most, and committed seven penalties. By the end of last season, he was moved to right guard. It’s a tough spot for the team, relying on a guy who struggled in that role just last year.
What’s Next for the Jaguars’ Offensive Line?
Rolling with Little and possibly elevating someone from the practice squad seems to be the clear solution for now. But if Little starts to struggle, the Jaguars might have to get aggressive. The Nov. 10 trade deadline is looming, and they could absolutely be looking to make moves to bolster that line. Another option: move Cole Van Lanen to left tackle. He impressed moving to left tackle late last season, so much so that he snagged a three-year, $51 million extension. Losing Harrison is a huge blow, and how the Jaguars respond in the trenches could define their season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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