The Jacksonville Jaguars will be without starting left guard Ben Bartch for the remainder of the season and backup outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson for at least four games. Both players were placed on injured reserve Tuesday due to knee troubles, the team announced.
Chaisson, 23, missed the Jaguars’ Week 4 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles due to an ankle injury and reportedly suffered a meniscus injury in a Week 5 loss to the Houston Texans. The 2020 first-round pick has seen a diminished role in the Jaguars defense with the arrival of No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker. Chaisson has been on the field for just 31 defensive snaps in four games this season.
The more concerning loss is Bartch, who beat out Tyler Shatley for the starting left guard role in August. Bartch told a reporter Sunday that he dislocated his knee against the Texans. On Wednesday, Jaguars coach Doug Pederson told reporters that Bartch is done for the year.
Prior to Tuesday, the only Jaguars player on the injured reserve was second-year outside linebacker Jordan Smith who suffered a season-ending knee injury in June.
The NFL rules say that a player on injured reserve must miss at least four games before they are eligible to return. That means the earliest Chaisson could return is on Nov. 13 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
In addition to placing the pair of players on injured reserve, the Jaguars also announced Tuesday that defensive lineman Israel Antwine was released from the practice squad. Antwine was an undrafted rookie from Oklahoma State who recorded five tackles and a sack during preseason with the Jaguars.
