The Jacksonville Jaguars prized free agent addition, tight end Julius Thomas, may not be ready in time for the start of the 2015 NFL season. According to Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell, via Michael DiRocco of ESPN, Thomas will get a second opinion on his hand on Tuesday and if he needs surgery will be out for a minimum of four weeks from that time. Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Thomas is "expected" to need surgery on the tendon in his finger and will miss four to five weeks.
Thomas, 27, suffered a "stable fracture" in his left hand in Jacksonville's preseason opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Thomas was expected to miss the remainder of the preseason after the injury, but was said to be likely to be back for the team's Week One game against the Carolina Panthers.
Thomas, a former fourth-round pick of the Denver Broncos, was handed a five-year, $46 million contract in free agency to pry him away from the NFL's Colorado-based team and help the Jaguars ferry young quarterback Blake Bortles along in his development.
In three seasons in Denver, Thomas amassed 109 receptions, 1,282 yards receiving, and a whopping 24 touchdowns. He was Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning's favorite red zone target and figures to fill a similar role for Bortles and the Jags.
