Jacksonville Jaguars: Marqise Lee battling injury and drops

Marqise Lee is struggling with an injury and dropped passes. The Jacksonville Jaguars need Lee to complement Allen Hurns.

Marqise Lee has been starting at receiver due to Allen Robinson‘s injury in Week 1. The Jacksonville Jaguars are hoping that Lee can fill Robinson’s role. Currently, Lee is battling an injury and drops in his attempt to do so. Lee has caught 13 passes for 159 yards in four games. His longest reception this season went for 35 yards. He is averaging 12.2 yards per reception while Blake Bortles has thrown at Lee 26 times.

Lee has battled injuries throughout his young career. Lee missed three games in his rookie season in 2014, then missed six games in 2015. However, he played each game last season. Currently, Lee is listed as questionable on the Jaguars injury report for Week 5. He did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday due to rib injury. He had a limited practice today (Friday) which means it is not certain for him to play.

The Jaguars can not afford to lose another receiver to injury. Jacksonville has four receivers on their injured reserve list already. There are two receivers on the practice squad available if needed. But Jacksonville really needs Lee on the field running routes.

Allen Hurns needs a healthy Lee, too. Since Hurns is the primary deep target, Lee’s job is to garner attention away from Hurns and make receptions. Lee catches most of his passes crossing over the middle. Unfortunately, Lee is tied for first in an unfavorable NFL statistical category, including most dropped passes. Currently, he has dropped four, with one of those being a huge third down pass in New York.

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Lee will become an unrestricted free agent following this season. He needs to get healthy and catch the ball on a consistent basis for Jacksonville to re-sign him. The once well stocked receiving corps in Jacksonville is becoming bare.