The Jacksonville Jaguars picked up their third-straight victory and their first prime time win since 2000 Thursday, beating the New York Jets 19-3. But that victory came at a cost. Top Jacksonville defensive lineman Dawuane Smoot was carted off with an injury during the game:
Lost in the celebration:
Dawuane Smoot was carted off the field #Jaguars pic.twitter.com/JmgWvyJBmB
— Mia O'Brien (@MiaOBrienTV) December 23, 2022
Shortly after Smoot was carted off there, injury commentator Dr. David Chao predicted the injury would be a torn Achilles’ tendon:
Unfortunately #DawuaneSmoot appears to tears his right Achilles late in @Jaguars win. Season over and surgery. pic.twitter.com/kuFIeyI6Gi
— David J. Chao – ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) December 23, 2022
“Unfortunately #DawuaneSmoot appears to tears his right Achilles late in @Jaguars win. Season over and surgery,” Chao tweeted. And on Friday, his analysis got some reporting support from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport:
#Jaguars standout DL Dawuane Smoot is feared to have torn his Achilles in last night's win over the #Jets at MetLife Stadium, source said. He's been an interior force for them, one of their best defensive linemen. He's getting an MRI this morning.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 23, 2022
“#Jaguars standout DL Dawuane Smoot is feared to have torn his Achilles in last night’s win over the #Jets at MetLife Stadium, source said. He’s been an interior force for them, one of their best defensive linemen. He’s getting an MRI this morning,” Rapoport tweeted.
The Jaguars selected Smoot (#91 in the top photo, seen tackling Chris Streveler Thursday) in the third round (68th overall) of the 2017 NFL draft. That pick came after he posted 15.5 sacks, 38.5 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, and 136 total tackles across four years at Illinois.
In six professional seasons with Jacksonville so far, Smoot has recorded 22.5 sacks, 27 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, and 123 total tackles. This year, he had played in all 15 of the Jaguars’ games, recording five sacks, six tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and 21 total tackles. He’ll certainly be missed on their defensive front if he’s out for any length of time.
[Ian Rapoport on Twitter; photo from Vincent Carchietta/USA Today Sports]
