When the Jacksonville Jaguars and their fans had received the news about Marqise Lee’s unfortunate knee injury in the preseason it put a huge damper on a team expected to contend for the Super Bowl. The veteran receiver suffered knee ligament damage and his season was over before it ever started. Lee was expected to be a big part of the Jaguars offensive in 2018, but instead, was placed on the team’s injured reserve list.
Who will step into the void left by the injury to Lee?
The Jaguars made the wide receiver position a point of emphasis this offseason giving them some solid depth. The Jags signed Donte Moncrief in free-agency and he has shown his value in the offense. Moncrief had eight receptions for 106 yards, averaging 13.2 yards per catch in three preseason games. The fifth-year pro out of Mississippi has picked up right where he left off in Indianapolis and could be the front-runner to replace Lee.
D.J.Chark the Jaguars 61st overall pick in the second round of the 2018 draft turned heads in training camp. At 6’3″, 199 lbs, Chark brings and ability to stretch the field with his 4.34 speed. In three preseason games, Chark had three catches for 25 yards averaging 8.3 yards per reception.
The Jags also have two second-year veterans in Keelan Cole and DeDe Westbrook who have also had great training camps and preseasons and will have the opportunity to be heavy contributors for Doug Marrone’s offense in the absence of Lee.
Marrone and his staff will have a tough decision to make on who to place in Lee’s spot for this weeks regular season opener versus the New York Giants.