Jacksonville Jaguars Receiver Marqise Lee Could Open Regular Season On PUP List

The Jacksonville Jaguars were AFC South champions and reached the conference title game in the 2017 season, nearly winning in New England in that game to reach the first Super Bowl in franchise history. Hopes were very high, then, entering 2018, but the club cratered to a 5-11 record and last-place finish in the division.

We aren't here to say the presence and then absence of receiver Marqise Lee was the main reason for the difference in records those two years, but it certainly played some role. In 2017, Lee caught 56 passes (team high) for 702 yards and three touchdowns. Not Jerry Rice numbers but not too shabby, and it earned Lee a four-year extension worth up to $38 million that offseason.

Lee was poised for a bigger role in 2018 because the Jags let Allen Robinson (who missed all but one game of 2017 with a knee injury) leave in free agency for the Chicago Bears. However, Lee tore his ACL in the third preseason game and that was that for his season. Jags receivers combined for 177 catches, 2,426 yards, 13.7 yards per catch and 12 TDs in '17. Last year: 172 catches, 2,110 yards, 12.3 YPC and nine TDs.

Jacksonville isn't exactly loaded at receiver with Dede Westbrook the likely No. 1 entering camp, so the team needs Lee healthy. One would think his numbers might improve from 2017, too, with the upgrade in quarterback from Blake Bortles to new starter Nick Foles. Lee is aiming for a return midway through training camp, but there's the possibility that he starts the regular season on the PUP list. Guys usually can return sooner from an ACL injury, but Lee also had PCL damage, which lengthened the rehab process.

Lee might have to battle new addition Chris Conley, formerly of the Chiefs, as the No. 2 to Westbrook. Conley reportedly looked good in OTAs. He had 32 catches for 334 yards and five scores in 2018 with Kansas City. The Jags also signed Terrelle Pryor and have Keelan Cole (who regressed from 2017 last year) and DJ Chark battling for playing time at receiver.

The Jags open the season at home against the Chiefs, who are 4-point favorites on the NFL odds.