JACKSONVILLE – Another player's season is over too soon.
That was one Jaguars story Monday afternoon, with Head Coach Doug Marrone announcing a day after a loss in the 2018 home finale that rookie safety Ronnie Harrison is done for the season.
Another primary story:
An offense that continues its late-season struggles – and that managed just 192 yards, 11 first downs and no touchdowns Sunday in a 16-13 loss to the Washington Redskins in the home finale at TIAA Bank Field.
"Offensively, you have to score points in this league," Marrone said.
The Jaguars' ability to do that has waned in recent weeks. They have scored one offensive touchdown in three games since Cody Kessler replaced Blake Bortles at quarterback and quarterbacks coach Scott Milanovich assumed play-calling duties following offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett's dismissal.
Kessler completed nine of 17 passes for 57 yards with no touchdowns and a late-game interception Sunday. The Jaguars' lone touchdown against the Redskins: a 74-yard punt return by wide receiver Dede Westbrook with :04 remaining in the first half.
"The lack of touchdowns puts a tremendous burden on your defense and special teams," Marrone said. "Those guys are stepping up, and we've got to find a way to step up offensively."
Marrone on Monday reiterated what he said following Sunday's loss – that Kessler will remain the starter.
"It's hard to evaluate when there's a high level of inconsistency around you," Marrone said. "We're not being able to make plays, run-game wise not being consistent enough … I'm responsible for that."
Marrone on Monday also discussed the workload for running back Leonard Fournette.
Fournette, the Jaguars' starting running back this season when healthy and the No. 4 overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft, rushed 10 times for 21 yards in the first half before rushing once for 25 yards in the second half. David Williams rushed four times for 31 yards in the second half and T.J. Yeldon rushed twice for six yards.
"I wanted to get David some carries," Marrone said. "I knew that going into the game. It was one of the things I wanted to see. He had five carries and averaged 6.4 yards a carry."
Jaguars reserve running back Carlos Hyde, acquired from the Cleveland Browns in October in exchange for a fifth-round selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, was a healthy inactive Sunday.
"Really, we were just trying to replace Carlos' carries with David's carries," Marrone said. "I wanted to get Dave the carries going into the game no matter what. I didn't want to end the game and say, 'Hey, listen, we had this guy up and didn't do it.' I think he can help us and give us a spark.
"With Leonard, we were getting safety blitzes. They were coming and real focused on it. It just didn't seem like it was working. We went to a little bit different scheme with David. We got a little more out of it."
Fournette has rushed for 396 yards and four touchdowns 115 carries this season. The Jaguars' offensive line on Sunday started just one Week 1 starter: right guard A.J. Cann. Three Week 1 starters – left tackle Cam Robinson (knee), left guard Andrew Norwell (ankle) and center Brandon Linder (knee) – are on injured reserve, and right tackle Jermey Parnell missed Sunday with a knee injury.
"I would say that's part of it; I really would," Marrone said. "I'm sure there are things Leonard would feel he could do better also."
Marrone said Fournette will be limited in practice this week with a foot injury.
Also:
*The Jaguars will place Harrison on injured reserve with a knee injury, according to Marrone. A third-round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft from Alabama, Harrison started the last three games after replacing veteran Barry Church in the lineup. …
*Kessler on Sunday was sacked six times for losses of 37 yards, and the Jaguars' 20 net passing yards marked their lowest total in franchise history. Marrone said Kessler should have thrown the ball more quickly on one of the sacks with another sack a combination of Kessler and an offensive lineman. "The rest of them, we just got beat," Marrone said. …
