Overview
- An NFL Network report Tuesday from Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport said Patrick Mekari had a procedure on his back and will miss some time, and the Jaguars have not decided whether to start him on injured reserve.
- Jacksonville's line is already thin after Cole Van Lanen was placed on the PUP list and starters Walker Little and Chuma Edoga missed time, while Wyatt Milum was ruled out for the week.
- Rookie Emmanuel Pregnon and second-year guard Wyatt Milum are the leading internal candidates to replace Mekari in the near term, with Pregnon earning praise for a promising preseason debut.
- If the Jaguars place Mekari on injured reserve to begin the year he would be required to miss at least four games under NFL rules, a decision that will shape roster moves and Week 1 protection plans for Trevor Lawrence.
- Mekari signed a three-year, $37.5 million deal and started 14 games in 2025, so his recovery and the staff's lineup choices will determine whether younger players seize extended roles and how the Jaguars balance short-term results with player development.