JACKSONVILLE – Kicker uncertainty is again the Jaguars' norm.
Quarterback is now far more certain.
Kicker Josh Lambo has been placed on injured reserve for the second time this season. Head Coach Doug Marrone announced that early Monday afternoon, also announcing that Jake Luton is expected to start at quarterback against the Green Bay Packers Sunday.
Lambo sustained a hip injury Sunday against the Houston Texans.
"Josh Lambo will be [out] significant time," Marrone said Monday, a day after the Jaguars' 27-25 loss to the Texans at TIAA Bank Field.
Luton threw for 304 yards and a touchdown – and also ran for a touchdown – in his NFL debut Sunday. Marrone said Gardner Minshew II, the starting Jaguars' starting quarterback in Weeks 1-7, isn't expected to play Sunday.
"Jake will play quarterback [against Green Bay]," Marrone said.
Lambo, who tied the Jaguars' franchise record for longest field goal with a 59-yarder on the final play of the first half Sunday, reinjured his left hip attempting an onside kick with 1:30 remaining. Lambo was on injured reserve from Weeks 3-6 this season with a related injury.
The Jaguars during that span used four kickers – rookie Brandon Wright, Aldrick Rosas, Stephen Hauschka and Jon Brown – with Lambo returning Week 7 against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Marrone, who said the Jaguars were working on Lambo's replacement as of early Monday afternoon, also on Monday discussed Luton's performance Sunday. Marrone said the Jaguars will work with Luton on multiple areas this week – footwork, scrambling and accuracy when scrambling among them – noting that the Texans game marked the rookie's first professional snaps because no preseason games were held this season.
"He'll get better the more he plays," Marrone said. "That was really like Preseason Game One as far as getting out there and going to play. He did some good things."
NOTABLE I
Marrone on Monday addressed a Jaguars pass rush that showed improvement Sunday after struggling much of the season. The Jaguars registered a season-high two sacks and had five quarterback hits on Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, who also escaped the Jaguars' pass rush to run 10 times for 50 yards. "We're starting to get pressure," Marrone said. "We let a couple of sacks get away from us where we had him in the grasp a couple of times. We let him escape. Deshaun Watson is really good at that. We're trending in the right direction. Probably not fast enough for all of us. It has been increasing."
NOTABLE II
Rookie defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton, starting for a third consecutive game, again drew praise from Marrone on Monday. The third-round nose tackle had an assist and a fumble recovery Sunday after having eight total tackles, a tackle for loss and two quarterback hits in a Week 7 start against the Los Angeles Chargers. "He's going to be a good player; I think everyone sees that," Marrone said.
NOTABLE III
Rookie wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. was better than expected Monday after leaving Sunday's game early with a hamstring injury. "We'll see how he progresses during the week," Marrone said of Shenault, who played a season-low 10 snaps Sunday. Rookie nose tackle Doug Costin, who started Sunday in place of veteran Taven Bryan, is in the concussion protocol after sustaining a concussion Sunday. Marrone also said cornerback DJ Hayden and safety Andrew Wingard are eligible to return off injured reserve this week.
NOTABLE IV
Wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. caught seven passes for 146 yards and a touchdown Sunday, his first 100-yard game of the season and the fourth 100-yard game of the third-year veteran's career. "Yesterday was a good indication of what we'd like to see going forward," Marrone said Monday of Chark. "DJ's done a good job. We haven't thrown as well at times this season. That might have been due to Gardner's injury when he was in there playing. We were able to throw yesterday and he made some big plays. He did a really good job of stretching the field for us."
QUOTABLE I
Marrone on Bryan, who played a season-low 23 snaps Sunday as a reserve after starting the first seven games of the season: "We're not discarding him. We're going to keep trying to get him better and getting those snaps."
