AP source: Jags’ Minshew could miss time
A person familiar with the situation says Jacksonville Jaguars quar terback Gardner Minshew has a strained ligament and multiple fractures in his right thumb, an injur y that could prompt coach Doug Marrone to turn to rookie Jake Luton after the team’s bye week.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity Thursday because the Jaguars (1-6) have not disclosed Minshew’s injur y publicly. The person said the team didn’t know about Minshew playing the last two games in pain until this week. ESPN first reported Minshew’s injur y.
Jacksonville is not required to submit an injury report while on a bye.
Minshew hasn’t been sharp since throwing for 301 yards and two touchdowns in a loss at Houston on Oct. 11. He had a season-low passer rating
(70.5) against Detroit two weeks ago and misfired early and often last Sunday at the Los Angeles Chargers. He completed 14 of 27 passes for 173 yards and two TDS and was sacked five times in a 39-29 loss, the team’s sixth straight.
Although veteran Mike Glennon ser ved as Minshew’s backup through the first seven games of the season, Marrone and general manager Dave Caldwell said Luton won the No. 2 job in training camp.
A sixth-round draft pick from Oregon State, Luton showed an NFL arm in camp. But his lack of experience was a major concern, so they kept Glennon in the backup role.
Marrone said Tuesday he planned to shake up things during the bye week. He offered no details, but he insisted repeatedly he was “fired up” to make sweeping changes before Jacksonville hosts the Texans (1-6) on Nov. 8.
“I’m sure people are going to mock me for that or say whatever the hell they want,” Marrone said. “But I really don’t give a (care). I’m fired up. I’m going to go after it and however it falls, it falls, but it’s open for me.
“I’ve done crazy (stuf f) before. A lot of people don’t know. We changed an of fense four or five days prior to the opening of our season in Syracuse my last year. We just went in a whole different direction and, (shoot), it worked out.”
Browns’ Garrett idle for second day with ankle injury
Cleveland Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett was held out of practice for the second straight day with an ankle injur y.
Garrett, who leads the NFL with nine sacks, didn’t practice Thursday as the Browns (5-2) continued to get ready for Sunday’s game against the Las
Vegas Raiders (3-3). Coach
Kevin Stefanski said he expects Garrett to be on the field for practice Friday.
Stefanski indicated the Browns didn’t want to risk Garrett practicing outdoors in chilly weather and rain forecast.
Stefanski said Garrett “did nothing more ” than tweak his ankle at some point during Sunday’s 3734 victor y over the Cincinnati Bengals, and Stefanski seemed assured it was nothing serious or could potentially keep him out this week.
However, with the Browns on their bye next week, the team will likely take a cautious approach if Garrett isn’t 100 percent.
Lions release LB Lee to clear up roster spot
The Detroit Lions released linebacker Elijah Lee to clear up a roster spot.
Detroit made the move Thursday, possibly to make room for cornerback Justin Coleman to return from injured reser ve.