Marqise Lee Placed on IR Ahead of London Game

The sixth-year wide receiver would not be eligible to return until Week 17

Sixth-year wide receiver Marqise Lee has been placed on the Jacksonville Jaguars reserve/injured list. The Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver has been dealing with a shoulder injury  and the team announced the move Tuesday.

Coming into the season, Lee was thought to be a potential big-time player in the Jacksonville offense, but has dealt with numerous injuries along the way.

Since signing a four-year, $38 million contract in March 2018, Lee has only caught a total of three passes. $18 million of his contract is guaranteed money. 

With guys like Dede Westbrook and DJ Chark continuing to emerge in the passing game, Lee is going to need to work his way back into the top receiver conversation for the Jaguars. Now that he’s on IR, the chance for another receiver to emerge is there. 

In 2018, Lee tore his ACL and was placed on IR before the season. These setbacks for the wideout have made it difficult for him to see action on the field.  

To take Lee's roster spot, the team has promoted undrafted rookie cornerback Tae Hayes to the active roster, the club announced today. The Jaguars also signed linebacker Keishawn Bierria to the practice squad and released linebacker Sutton Smith from the practice squad.  

The Jaguars have other candidates to produce at the position. Chark has been dominant this season so far, while Westbrook is starting to come on as well. Both of those wide receivers have a great amount of potential and have already been the top targeted receivers for Jacksonville thus far. 

The thought of having a three-headed monster with Lee, Chark, and Westbrook can still become a reality if the player remains on the team past this season but  with Lee out now, the other two are going to be relied on heavily, along with Chris Conley. 

The Jaguars remain committed to the passing game despite Lee's injury, as it’s worked well the past few games. Lee being out could hurt a little, but the offensive production numbers should still continue to improve even in his absence.

When Lee is able to return, either at the end of the year or in 2020 if the Jaguars do not cut him, maybe the team can get more production out of him. Although, injuries will still linger if he doesn’t get to full health soon. We’ve seen it happen many times. But, the absence of Lee only gives the other receivers better opportunities to get more playing time and a potential larger role in the offense.