A Jaguars defensive line regular for the past six seasons, Dawuane Smoot may not have the chance to finish out what has become an intriguing year for the team.
The Jags fear the rotational pass rusher suffered a torn Achilles during their win over the Jets on Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). Smoot, 27, is months away from free agency.
The longest-tenured member of Jacksonville’s defense, Smoot has been with the team since being a 2017 third-round pick. With most of his contributions coming for struggling teams, the Illinois product has been one of the more under-the-radar D-line producers in recent years. This marks the fourth consecutive season in which Smoot has totaled at least five sacks. He is sitting on five after 15 games; it does not appear that number will balloon further.
Breaking into the NFL as a reserve on the team’s “Sacksonville” defense that nearly keyed a Super Bowl berth in 2017, Smoot has mostly been a rotational defender. Despite playing for three defensive coordinators over the past three years, results have emerged. The 6-foot-3 edge defender has 22.5 sacks over the past four seasons. He totaled 33 quarterback hits from 2020-21. For a Jags team that has emerged as the favorite to win the AFC South, Smoot’s production is right in stride with recent years. He has 12 QB hits this season, including two in the team’s overtime win over the Cowboys.
Smoot signed a two-year, $10M contract to stay with the Jags during Urban Meyer’s brief run. This injury stands to affect his 2023 market, unfortunately. Thursday looks to mark the second straight game in which Jacksonville has lost a key lineman. The team is likely down left tackle Cam Robinson for the rest of the season.
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