HOUSTON, Texas – The Jaguars' leading receiver is expected to miss the rest of the regular season.
Allen Robinson, a 2015 Pro Bowl selection and the Jaguars' leading receiver each of the past two seasons, sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the team's regular-season-opening victory over the Houston Texans Sunday. He is expected to miss the rest of the regular season.
Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone confirmed the ACL tear Monday.
"What I think about is how hard A-Rob has worked, and how much he's put in," Marrone said on a conference call Monday afternoon, a day after the Jaguars' 29-7 victory at NRG Stadium in Houston.
"I know what type of year he wanted to have. I think that's the thing that gets me as a coach as much as anything. You watch a player who has done everything that you've asked him to do and was really set up for a great year. To sustain an injury, it's obviously a blow."
Robinson, a second-round selection in the 2014 NFL Draft, has 202 receptions for 2,848 yards and 22 touchdowns in three-plus NFL seasons. He caught a career-high 80 passes for 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2015, then had 73 receptions for 883 yards and six touchdowns last season.
With Robinson injured and rookie Dede Westbrook on injured reserve, the Jaguars have four healthy receivers on the roster: Marqise Lee, Allen Hurns, rookie Keelan Cole and Arrelious Benn.
Lee started opposite Robinson Sunday, not catching a pass after catching 63 passes for 851 yards and three touchdowns last season. Lee has 115 receptions for 1,464 yards and five touchdowns in three NFL seasons and has started 16 games in three seasons.
Hurns, an undrafted free agent in 2014, caught three passes for 42 yards Sunday. He has 34 starts in three-plus seasons with 153 receptions for 2,227 yards and 19 touchdowns. He caught 64 passes for 1,031 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2015.
"Obviously, we have confidence in Marqise and Allen to step up," Marrone said.
Robinson, who sustained the injury after a 17-yard reception on the game's first series Sunday, is entering the final season of his rookie contract.
