Two More Down

DaVon Hamilton and safety Eric Murray both left the Week 8 game with injuries, the latest additions to a Jacksonville injury list that has become one of the longer documents in the building. Hamilton is listed as questionable, which at least leaves the door open. Murray's status going forward is less clear.

The timing is rough. Hamilton is the top name on the defensive tackle depth chart, and the Jaguars were already thin there before Sunday. Ruke Orhorhoro is active and figures to absorb more of the load. On the back end, the secondary has been a managed crisis since Alijah Huzzie went out — and Huzzie remains out — so Murray's absence lands on a unit that was already short on established pieces.

Jacksonville is 5-2, leading the AFC South, with a magic number of 10 and 10 games left. The offense has held up its end; Trevor Lawrence has 14 touchdowns against four interceptions, and the skill players have been mostly available. The defense is where the attrition is accumulating — the line, the secondary, now both in the same afternoon. Foyesade Oluokun has been steady at linebacker, but one player's steadiness doesn't cover every gap.

The Jaguars have won this season by staying healthy enough on offense while patching the defense week to week. That formula still works at 5-2. The question is whether it holds for 10 more.