Giants, Jags have offensive lines broken by injuries to key starters
The Jacksonville Jaguars’ 31-20 victory over New England was perhaps the most impressive and most surprising of Sunday’s games: Blake Bortles outdueling Tom Brady.
But the win came at cost that’s heavier than many realize. Cam Robinson, left tackle and chief bodyguard of Bortles, suffered a torn ACL in his left knee that ends his season.
Robinson, 6-6, 320 pounds, from Alabama, was a second-round pick (34th overall) in the 2017 draft. He became an instant starter who contradicted scouting reports that said he couldn’t pass-block.
Robinson kept Bortles healthy and was a major factor in Leonard Fournette successfully pounding the ball. But the team can expect competence from his backup, 6-6, 306-pound Josh Wells. Last year Wells played in all 16 games for the Jags.
Another significant health loss Sunday was New York Giants center Jon Halapio, who suffered fractures of a leg and ankle and was ruled out for the season.
An undrafted free agent out of the University of Florida last year, he was one of the most pleasant surprises of this year’s Giants training camp. In fact Halapio played so well that the team was willing to trade its veteran starter Brett Jones to Minnesota.
Halapio will be replaced by 33-year-old John Greco and/or 25-year-old Spencer Pulley, who started all 16 games for the Los Angeles Chargers last season. Neither pass-blocks as well as Halapio, who was the best of the limited protection quarterback Eli Manning had.
