Jaguars DT DaVon Hamilton Likely Done for Season, Eric Murray Out
Coming off a 42-7 win over the division rival Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, the mood should have been all positive for the Jacksonville Jaguars to kick off their short week on Monday. But the Jaguars suffered a huge blow Monday.
Defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton will likely miss the rest of the season with a torn quad, coach Liam Coen confirmed.
Hamilton was carted off the field in the second quarter Sunday and appeared to grab his right knee. He did not return to action.
Coen also confirmed Monday evening that safety Eric Murray will be out for the season after suffering an elbow injury to open the game.
“Disappointing for sure for both of those guys,” Coen said. “Challenging for sure, but great opportunity for Matt Dickerson, obviously Arik Armstead, Ruke [Ruke Orhorhoro], [Albert] Regis. Those guys are going to have to step up.”
The injuries are tough news for a Jaguars squad coming off one of its best defensive performances this season, and Hamilton is a crucial piece of the puzzle for one of the premier run defenses in the NFL. This season, he’s racked up 16 total tackles and two stuffs, proving to be a defensive stronghold at the line of scrimmage.
The Jaguars veteran has been with the team since he was drafted by Jacksonville in the third round of the 2020 draft. He was immediately an impact player, starting six games in his first season and seeing action in 11. Over his seven seasons, he’s emerged as a leader, and he’s started every contest for Jacksonville so far this season. In his Jaguars career, he’s accumulated 260 total tackles, 31 stuffs and six sacks.
“Extremely difficult,” Coen said Sunday. “There’s not many better humans, better competitors, team guys. You should have saw D-Ham this week in practice. His leadership and defensive line, individual periods this week. Just the human, the competitor. I can’t say enough about him.
“When he’s out there laying down, and he’s reassuring me. That’s who he is. He’s reassuring me, and has a smile on his face.”
With the trade deadline rapidly approaching, the injury may force the Jaguars to shift focus to picking up a defensive tackle.
Against the Colts on Sunday, defensive tackles Armstead, Orhorhoro and Dickerson were all available to fill in for Hamilton while Regis was inactive, but it is unclear thus far if those will be sustainable substitutions or if the Jaguars will look to trade.
The Jaguars signed defensive tackle Austin Johnson to the practice squad Monday afternoon.
Meanwhile, this season was Murray’s first with the Jaguars after signing with the franchise in March. He brought over a decade of experience at safety and had 15 tackles (10 solo) this season.
The Jaguars face the Ravens on the road Thursday at 8:15 p.m. following a short week of practice. This will be the team’s last chance to see what it needs before the Nov. 10 trade deadline.
Ahead of the matchup, Coen continued to emphasize the next man up mentality.
“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,” Coen said. “They stay the course, and good things usually happen.
Category: Jacksonville Jaguars, NFL
