Jaguars' Foles breaks clavicle, out indefinitely - 5 minutes read


JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Quarterback Nick Foles' debut for the Jacksonville Jaguars lasted less than a quarter.

Foles suffered a broken left clavicle when Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones drove him into the ground after Foles released the ball on a 35-yard touchdown pass to DJ Chark. He left the sideline for X-rays and was ruled out of the game shortly after.

He will have surgery on Monday and there is no timetable for his return. It is the same clavicle Foles fractured while playing with the Eagles in 2014, after he was sacked in a game against the Texans.

"We don't have a time span," Foles said. "We're going to take it one day at a time, just get the surgery done. ... I'm going to do everything I can to get back as quickly as I can so we're ready to roll."

Backup quarterback Gardner Minshew, the team's sixth-round draft pick this past April, entered the game on the Jaguars' ensuing drive. The Jaguars don't have another quarterback on the active roster. They signed Chase Litton to the practice squad last week.

"I knew right when I hit the ground that something was wrong," Foles said. "I felt it. ... All I saw was two red jerseys in my face, I hit the ground and heard a crack. Going into the sidelines and getting checked ... I just saw the play for the first time before I came in here. It's unfortunate, but at the same time I'm trusting the good Lord."

If the Jaguars place Foles on injured reserve and designated him to return, he would be able to practice after six weeks but would not be able to return to the active roster until two weeks after that. That would be the Jaguars' bye week, making his return Week 10 at Indianapolis on Nov. 17, if the Jaguars choose to go that route.

Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered a similar injury on Oct. 15, 2017, and missed eight games.

"Obviously it's unfortunate," Jaguars coach Doug Marrone said. "Really liked to see how the game would've played out or worked itself out. With Nick, what I've been told is he broke his left collarbone. I don't know the time frame. I'm sure you guys can look it up to see what the average broken collarbone is."

Things got even worse for the Jaguars in the second quarter when middle linebacker Myles Jack was ejected after throwing a punch at Chiefs receiver Demarcus Robinson.

imageplay
0:19

Nick Foles tells reporters there currently is "no time frame" on his return, but he's hopeful his collarbone will heal quicker than his last injury.

Jack was penalized for illegal contact on Chiefs receiver Sammy Watkins in the end zone. Jack shoved Watkins after the play and Robinson ran over and shoved Jack from behind. The two players exchanged words and Jack tried to punch Robinson in the helmet. Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey ran up and jumped into the scrum, as well.

Robinson, Jack and Chiefs running back Damien Williams were penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct. Jack was incensed and had to be restrained by teammates from going after Chiefs players after his ejection was announced.

Jack was the Jaguars' most experienced linebacker and one of the defensive captains. He was replaced by Najee Goode.

Jack apologized to his teammates after the game for being ejected and how he hurt the team's effort.

"First and foremost, I have to apologize to my team and the city of Jacksonville because that is not how we conduct ourselves in any way," Jack said. "In the heat of the moment I just felt like when Sammy Watkins ran a route that was not a route and came and hit me underneath my chin. I put my hands up and he stood over me and said something to me so I pushed him and next thing I know, someone pushed me from behind. I did not see any flags thrown so at that point I felt like I needed to defend myself from the altercation that was going on after the play.

"At the end of the day, I apologize for that and it will not happen again."

Foles returned to the Jaguars' sideline in the second half with his arm in a sling.

The Jaguars signed Foles to a four-year, $88 million contract with a team-record $50.125 million guaranteed in March. He led Philadelphia to a Super Bowl LII victory while subbing for an injured Carson Wentz (he was named MVP in that game) and also filled in for Wentz to lead the Eagles to the playoffs last season.

Foles has dealt with injuries throughout his career and was on the injury report this week because of soreness in an oblique muscle. Foles played in only 19 snaps in the preseason -- the third game against Miami -- because coach Doug Marrone did not want him on the field unless the starting offensive line was healthy and able to play.

Foles has entered the season as his team's unquestioned starter just twice before, and failed to finish the season both years. He missed the final eight games of the 2014 season following his first clavicle injury, and he was benched for Case Keenum in 2015.