JACKSONVILLE – The next-day news was as difficult as it was expected.

The AFC South-leading Jaguars will be without two critical veteran defensive leaders for the rest of the 2026 season, with DaVon Hamilton and Eric Murray sustaining season-ending injuries against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday.

Head Coach Liam Coen announced the players' injury status Monday afternoon.

"Disappointing, for sure, for both of those guys," Coen said a day after the Jaguars’ 42-7 victory over the Colts at EverBank Stadium.

Coen spoke Monday as the Jaguars (5-2) began preparing to visit the Baltimore Ravens (4-4) at MT&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md., Thursday, calling the loss of Hamilton and Murray "challenging, for sure."

"I do believe we have really good leadership," Coen said. "It's going to be tested now more than ever with D-Ham and Murray, specifically – two veteran football players, starters. Not only that, but unbelievable human beings and leaders on this football team.

"We're going to be tested this week, for sure. Our mettle will be tested. Our mental toughness, our group collaboration and connectivity will be tested. But I fully anticipate this group to be able to connect and stay together."

A look at the two injuries and their position groups as they now stand.

• Hamilton, one of the NFL's best nose tackles and a key to one of the NFL's best run defenses, sustained a quadriceps injury in the second quarter on Sunday. Defensive tackles on the Jaguars' roster: Twelve-year veteran Arik Armstead, seventh-year veteran Matt Dickerson, third-year veteran Ruke Orhorhoro and rookie Albert Regis, with the Jaguars signing veteran Austin Johnson – who spent last season with the Jaguars – to the practice squad Monday. "Those guys are obviously going to have to step up," Coen said. "It's going to be by committee. Those guys are all going to have to play meaningful snaps for us." Rookie defensive tackle T.J. Bollers also is on the practice squad.
• Murray, a veteran safety and a leader in a young secondary, sustained an elbow injury on the opening kickoff Sunday. Safeties on the Jaguars' roster: Fourth-year veteran Antonio Johnson, fourth-year veteran Kaevon Merriweather, second-year veteran Rayuan Lane III and rookie Jalen Huskey. Second-year veteran Caleb Ransaw is currently on injured reserve, with first-year veteran Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig on the practice squad.

Lane returned a first-half interception for a 92-yard touchdown Sunday, with Huskey – a third-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft – registering a fourth-quarter sack. Merriweather registered two tackles and a quarterback hit.

"Those plays are so critical and that experience is so critical," Coen said. "Anytime you can get young players NFL experience, it's just so valuable. It's such a long season and you have these injuries pop up. Whether it was going to happen now or in Week 12, it's going to occur.

"Everybody kind of goes through something like this. It's the reason why you try to have depth and try to draft and acquire the right type of people that can stay the course, even when they're maybe not getting as much playing time as they would like early on.

"They stay the course, and good things usually happen."

Johnson, a key to the Jaguars' secondary and overall defense, missed the victory over the Colts with an ankle injury.

"We'll see," Coen said of Johnson's status for Thursday. "Hopefully [Tuesday], when we actually jog around and move around more out on the grass, we'll have a better feel."

Linebacker Foyesade Oluokun on Monday also spoke of a "next-man-up" mentality.

"We have a lot of talent on this team," Oluokon said. "It's good that everybody has that kind of inner competition, not against anybody on the team, but just feeling like they're ready to play and they can step up and make plays for the team.

"You hear it all the way from camp until now, like, 'I want my time, when is my time going to come,' for really anybody on the team. Anybody's ready to step up and get into a role where they're making plays for us."

INJURY REPORT

The Jaguars on Monday released the first of three injury reports for the week, with the report considered projections because of the walkthrough nature of the Monday practice on a short preparation week. Hamilton and Murray were listed as missing practice Monday, as were running back Bhayshul Tuten (ankle/foot) and defensive end Travon Walker (rib). Johnson was listed as limited, with five other players  - running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (hand), wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (hamstring/ankle), guard Ezra Cleveland (knee/ankle), linebacker Branson Combs (shoulder) and cornerback Jarrian Jones (ankle) - also listed as practicing limited.