Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew missed his third consecutive practice Friday and has been ruled out for Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Houston Texans because of a lingering knee injury, the team announced.
Jones-Drew admitted to The Florida Times-Union on Thursday that his sore knee, which likely will need offseason surgery, has been bothering him for some time.
“It wasn’t hurt to the point that I couldn’t play on it, but we knew that if I did play on it, this could happen,” he said. “I chose to do it. I wanted to play football and I love playing the game. This is the price you pay sometimes.”
The Jaguars also signed linebacker Alvin Bowen to the active roster from their practice squad after placing quarterback David Garrard on season-ending injured reserve with a finger injury on his right (throwing) hand. Garrard underwent surgery on the finger Thursday.
The injuries to Jones-Drew and Garrard leave the Jaguars without their two best offensive players entering a must-win game. They also need the Tennessee Titans to upset the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday to give Jacksonville the AFC South title and the playoff berth that comes with it.
The 6-foot-1, 222-pound Bowen has played in two games for the Jaguars this season and spent the remainder of the year on the practice squad.
Bowen signed with the Jaguars as a free agent in August after spending part of the preseason with the Seattle Seahawks. He also has spent time with the Washington Redskins and Buffalo Bills
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Source: www.jerseyspic.com
