Urban Meyer believes OG A.J. Cann will be out for the season
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The Jacksonville Jaguars offense has improved as of the last three to four weeks but has done so while unfortunately sustaining a few injuries along the way. The most significant was the loss of receiver DJ Chark Jr., who will miss the rest of the season due to a fractured ankle that he sustained Week 4 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
If that wasn’t tough enough, it appears they will be without another starter on the unit in A.J. Cann, who went on injured reserve on Oct. 4 with a right MCL injury. In his weekly radio show (see in the video below), Jags coach Urban Meyer revealed that he believes Cann will be out for the rest of the season, which means second-year player Ben Bartch will now start in his place for the remainder of the season.
“Well, Bartch went into the game [Week 4 against Cincinnati and beyond] and he’s been very solid to replace A.J. Cann,” Meyer said when asked about the performance of his backup offensive linemen. “A.J. Cann I believe is out for the season.”
For a team that needs as many of its starters as healthy as possible, the news about Cann’s situation is something that will concern fans. However, his injury does give the staff a chance to see what they have in Bartch, who could’ve potentially been their starting right guard of 2022 as Cann is on the last year of his contract. Instead of waiting, though, they will get an early preview instead.
Overall, Bartch has already played 155 snaps this year due to other injury situations that occurred along the interior of the offensive line. He’s accumulated a Pro Football Focus grade of 53.3 in the process, but it’s possible he can get on the right track now that he’s permanently going to see time on the field this year.
If he plays well, it will give the Jags another very affordable starter (still on his rookie deal) on their offensive line to groom alongside their young quarterback in Trevor Lawrence. If not, the team could address the guard position in free agency or the draft of 2022.
