Cecil Shorts has pain sleeping, taking jerseys off

Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Cecil Shorts III (84) reacts during the game against the Oaklanld Raiders at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Jaguars 19-9. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Jacksonville Jaguars star WR Cecil Shorts suffered one of the most painful and inconvenient sprains that a wideout can suffer, as he sprained his SC joint early in last week’s game against the Denver Broncos. Shorts’s sprain has been deemed as minor, and Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley stated earlier this week that Shorts has a shot at playing this week against the San Diego Chargers. However, Shorts stated that he is, unsurprisingly, in a lot of pain, and it sounds like Shorts is dealing with an insane amount of pain. The Florida Times-Union’s Hays Carlyon reports that Cecil Shorts “still needs help getting his jerseys off” and can’t sleep due to the pain.

The Jaguars really need to rule this guy out, because Shorts has no business playing this week. Even though that means Justin Blackmon will have to be matched up against former teammate Derek Cox instead and the Jaguars will lose a star player, it’s a decision the Jaguars have to make. It’s clear to me that Shorts isn’t healthy enough to play, and he is dealing with an immense amount of pain.

SC sprains, even if they are deemed minor, are incredibly difficult for receivers to play through, because they make it extremely difficult and painful for a player to raise his arms above his head. That’s obviously a crucial thing for receivers to do it, and it’s best to allow Shorts to sit this game out.

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