Jacksonville Jaguars’ left guard Ezra Cleveland is listed as questionable on the team’s final Week 3 injury report ahead of Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans.
Cleveland is working through an ankle injury he sustained in Week 2 against Cincinnati.
Earlier in the week, head coach Liam Coen seemed confident that Cleveland would be available for this week’s game. However, two missed practices and a questionable injury designation create some uncertainty around that.
So if Cleveland can’t play against the Texans, who would start at left guard for the Jaguars?
Starting left guard options for Jaguars if Ezra Cleveland is out
The way I see it, there are two options available for the Jaguars.
For the least amount of overall movement on the offensive line, Chuma Edoga could slide into the left guard role. A lot of Edoga’s work this summer came on the right side of the offensive line, but he has 156 career snaps at left guard and 847 at left tackle–so it’s not as if that side of the line is unfamiliar to him.
If the Jaguars prefer to keep Edoga at right guard, again, where many of his reps with the Jaguars have come, Patrick Mekari could slide over to left guard, where he played 822 snaps last season while with the Ravens.
On Saturday afternoon, practice squad elevations will be announced by the Jaguars. If no offensive lineman is brought up to the game day roster, then that’s a good sign Cleveland will be good to go.
However, if a lineman is elevated, Cleveland’s status continues to be something to monitor.
The Texans’ defense currently ranks 15th in pressure rate through two games and 19th in yards per rush allowed.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: 2 starting left guard options for Jaguars with Ezra Cleveland questionable
Reporting by Paul Bretl, Jaguars Wire / Jaguars Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
