JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars have undoubtedly missed receiver Rashad Greene on offense, but his loss has been felt just as much on special teams.
Greene had averaged 13.0 yards on three returns in the Jaguars' first two games before being placed on short-term IR with a thumb injury. Since then, the Jaguars have averaged just 4.6 yards on seven returns. Receiver Bryan Walters has averaged 4.8 yards on five returns while cornerback Nick Marshall has been even worse, averaging just 3.3 yards on three returns.
Coach Gus Bradley said Marshall will get first crack at returning punts against Buffalo on Sunday. Walters has to play a more significant role on offense because of injuries to Marqise Lee (hamstring), the decision to put Tony Washington on IR because of a hip flexor, and the addition of rookie Neal Sterling to the active roster.
Walters is the Jaguars' only completely healthy experienced receiver. Allen Robinson (28 catches, 488 yards, five TDs) has a shin contusion and Allen Hurns (29 catches, 460 yards, four TDs) has battled thigh and ankle injuries for several weeks.
"You’d like to have a chance where you can break one," Bradley said. "Look for Nick to get back there again now this week and give him some opportunities. I think his mindset, as you’ve seen before, a guy that is aggressive as a punt returner. We just have to hold our blocks a little bit longer, maintain it and then hit it north and south. But you’d like to see us get some more yards on that and change field position."
