Jaguars Wide Receiver to Miss Game vs. Steelers

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Zay Jones has been ruled out of his team’s Week 8 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, head coach Doug Pederson said on Friday.

Jones, 28, has been dealing with a right knee injury and was unable to practice this week. He will miss his fifth game. The Jaguars have a bye week after visiting the Steelers this Sunday, and hope to have Jones return to the lineup then.

“We have a great chemistry, we have a great rapport and I just think whenever you’re missing a guy like that, it’s going to impact you to some extent,” quarterback Trevor Lawrence said this week. “That’s why he’s one of our best players, there’s a reason for that and the impact he makes on the field.”

Jones has missed four of the last five games, playing against the Buffalo Bills on Oct. 8, but not since. The Jaguars are 3-1 in games without him this season.

“Of course, we miss him and want him back out there, we know that’ll happen eventually, but at the same time, guys have stepped up and guys have done a great job,” Lawrence said. “It’s been a little different and you have to plan around that. Whenever you’re missing any player, that’s what you have to do. It’s the nature of this game, it’s hard to keep everyone healthy all season, it’s impossible.”

Without Jones in the lineup, Jamal Agnew has started alongside Christian Kirk and Calvin Ridley. Agnew has nine catches for 90 yards on the season. Tight end Evan Engram and running back Travis Etienne are both significant weapons in the passing game, as well.