Jaguars place rookie CB C.J. Henderson (groin) on injured reserve

The Jacksonville Jaguars will be without a key defensive figure for at least the next three games. 

Jacksonville has confirmed that rookie cornerback C.J. Henderson is going on injured reserve because of the groin injury that limited him in practice on Wednesday and sidelined him on Thursday. 

The 22-year-old selected ninth overall in the 2020 NFL Draft has started in eight of nine games for the 1-8 Jaguars and is second on the team with six passes defended. Henderson has recorded 36 total tackles, an interception that he nabbed during the season-opening win over the Indianapolis Colts, and a forced fumble he tallied in last Sunday's loss to the Green Bay Packers. 

As Michael DiRocco noted for ESPN, Henderson missed the Week 5 game at the Houston Texans because of a shoulder problem. 

Due to rules for the NFL season held amid the coronavirus pandemic, a player on injured reserve must miss a minimum of three contests. Henderson, thus, will be a spectator for Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers and showdowns with the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings. 

He could be eligible to return to face the Tennessee Titans on Dec. 13.

Jacksonville also designated cornerback D.J. Hayden to return off IR. DiRocco reports that Tre Herndon will replace Henderson in the secondary on Sunday if Hayden is able to feature at nickelback against Pittsburgh.