After suffering an ankle injury against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Jacksonville Jaguars offensive guard Brandon Scherff is set to return to the field against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Scherff sustained the injury early in the second half when Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II landed on the back of his ankle. He returned for a few plays before missing the rest of the game.
Buy Jaguars TicketsThe veteran lineman didn’t participate in Wednesday’s practice, but after practicing in a limited capacity Thursday, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson announced Friday that Scherff is in for Sunday’s home opener.
“I think everybody heals differently; pain tolerance is different for everybody,” Pederson said. “He played at Iowa — tough player. It just goes to show the type of person that he is and how important his teammates are and this team and trying to be available for every game.”
Scherff received an MRI after his injury, which revealed he sustained a sprained ankle and was ruled day-to-day.
Pederson recognized Scherff’s importance to the team as Jacksonville navigated his injury.
“It’s obviously a loss for the offensive line, it’s pretty substantial,” Pederson said Monday. “His leadership with Anton [Harrison] there and the communication they’ve had and the rapport they’ve had since the offseason.”
Pederson was confident in Tyler Shatley’s ability to fill in for the injured Scherff, but Shatley will now be on standby.
Scherff joined the Jaguars on a three-year, $49.5 million contract in the 2022 offseason. He has been a captain in both his seasons in Duval, and has become a mentor for some of the younger players on the roster.
The Chiefs will have Chris Jones available for the first time this season after he signed a new contract with Kansas City. Scherff’s status gives the Jaguars an experienced, proven guard to help fight off the Chiefs’ impressive defensive line that got even scarier with Jones’ return.
