An NFL season is a constant act of attrition. The "next man up" mantra is one utilized in every locker room, weekend after weekend as joints collapse and ligaments tear under the pressure, under the weight, of a professional football campaign. It seems like just about every week in the NFL a team loses an integral piece and is forced to soldier on, yet another wounded warrior left bloodied on the roadside along the way.
The NFL's Week 5 slate was no different.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles: Something may be "wrong" for the 1-4 Jacksonville Jaguars, but to this point of the season, it hasn't been Bortles. Now the eighth-ranked quarterback in fantasy football, Bortles has certainly looked the part of a franchise quarterback - he's got 1,299 yards, 10 touchdowns and just four interceptions so far in 2015 - even if he hasn't been able to helm the Jaguars to wins the way a true franchise signal-caller would.
Still, there's no denying his skill and now, his toughness. Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley revealed to reporters after the game that Bortles played through a Grade 1 AC Joint sprain, also known as a separated shoulder, on Sunday in the team's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fortunately for Jaguars fans, Grade 1 sprains are considered a "simple sprain...with minor damage to the ligament and no separation of the bones," so the team is likely to continue enjoying Bortles' steadily improving services.
Baltimore Ravens cornerback Will Davis: The Ravens and Davis were not so lucky. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported early Monday that Davis suffered a torn ACL during the Ravens loss to the Cleveland Browns in overtime this weekend.
It's a tough blow for Davis, acquired by the Ravens during a late preseason trade with the Miami Dolphins, and an even tougher blow for Baltimore. Their already beleaguered defense, and more specifically, their secondary, just got a whole lot thinner with Davis' reported injury.
Houston Texans linebacker Jadeveon Clowney: It's still too early to slap Clowney with the injury-prone label, but that time is drawing steadily closer. Only five weeks after making his triumphant return from the dreaded microfracture knee surgery, Clowney suffered an ankle sprain during the team's Thursday night loss to the Indianapolis Colts and now, per Texans head coach Bill O'Brien, via Kevin Patra of NFL.com, remains "day-to-day."
Clowney has appeared in all five games for the Texans this season after suffering through an injury-shortened rookie NFL campaign, but he has yet to record a sack. With the whole Texans team falling well short of expectations thus far this season, his return to health is becoming paramount.
