Jaguars News: Julius Thomas injury latest in a lengthy history
Former Denver Broncos tight end Julius Thomas signed a massive deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason, but he’s going to be starting the season on a very familiar list from his days in Denver: the injury report.
Thomas’ reputation in Denver grew more sour by the week after being drafted in the fourth round back in 2011 when he essentially didn’t see the field for the first two years of his career. After emerging in 2013 as one of the top receiving tight ends in the game with Peyton Manning as his quarterback, Thomas finally looked like he was turning a corner in his career.
He wasn’t.
Thomas got off to an incredible start in 2014 with 12 touchdowns in the first couple months of the season, but the second half of the year was abysmal. He couldn’t stay on the field and when he could, his ankles were such that he couldn’t make the cuts he could in 2013 when he was so dominant.
At one point, Thomas had caught a touchdown pass from Peyton Manning and then exclaimed that what he was doing was too easy. Apparently, it’s not as easy as it seems.
Now, Thomas is facing a lengthy period on the game day inactive list due to a broken finger. He’s expected to undergo surgery on that finger and will likely miss a minimum of five weeks, per reports.
So, for the first season in his Jaguars career, Thomas will at least miss the first quarter of the season, probably more. This is nothing new for Thomas, who developed somewhat of a sour relationship with Denver fans after his father publicly called out the Broncos and their training staff for essentially wrecking his son’s ankles.
Thomas’ toughness was already a question to fans, but his dad stepping in and essentially severing the relationship between Thomas and the Broncos cemented the end of ‘Orange Julius’ in Denver. Hopefully Jacksonville fans don’t feel the same disdain for Thomas here, but with this guy, it really just seems like if it’s not one thing, it’s the other. He simply cannot stay on the field.
The Jaguars have had an impressive number of failed assets in terms of high draft picks lately, they certainly don’t need a highly paid pass catcher like Julius Thomas to flame out before he gets started. Here’s to wishing Thomas a speedy recovery and a quick return to the field.