PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania. – The pregame injury news was pretty much as expected.
As a result, the Jaguars will be really young offensively in the 2014 regular-season opener, particularly at wide receiver.
Wide receiver Cecil Shorts III won't play the regular-season opener Sunday, and rookie running back Storm Johnson will miss his first NFL game. Shorts was ruled out Saturday with a hamstring injury, with Johnson, tight end Clay Harbor and offensive tackle Austin Pasztor having been ruled out Friday.
They were four of the Jaguars' game-day inactives Sunday, with offensive tackle Josh Wells (shoulder), defensive end Chris Smith and guard Tyler Shatley being the others.
All were officially ruled out of the regular-season opener 90 minutes before the Jaguars played the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field Sunday.
Shorts will be replaced in the lineup by rookie Allen Hurns, who will start opposite rookie Marqise Lee. Rookie Allen Robinson also will get significant time at receiver along with second-year veteran Mike Brown.
With Lee and Hurns starting, that marks the first time in franchise history the Jaguars will start two rookie wide receivers in the regular-season opener. With Brandon Linder starting at guard, the Jaguars will have three rookies in the starting lineup in the regular-season opener for the first time since 2009.
Johnson sustained an ankle injury in the Jaguars' preseason finale against Atlanta. Harbor missed with a calf injury and Pasztor missed the game with a hand injury that is expected to also keep him out Week 2 against Washington.
Fourth-year veteran Cameron Bradfield started for Pasztor. With Harbor out, newly signed Mickey Shuler will play a week after he joined the Jaguars off waivers.
Johnson's absence left the Jaguars with Gerhart, Denard Robinson and Jordan Todman at running back.
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the Jaguars arrival to Lincoln Financial Field to open the 2014 NFL regular season.
