Jaguars First-Round Pick Dante Fowler Has Torn ACL, Out For Season

Update:

ESPN’s Adam Schefter, citing a league source, reports that Jaguars first-round pick DE Dante Fowler sustained a torn ACL during Friday’s minicamp practice and will now be out for the entire 2015 season.

• Mike Garafolo points out that even though Fowler has yet to sign his rookie contract that will pay him $23.5 million deal fully guaranteed over the course of his four years, it’s unlikely that this injury will affect his contract in the end.
• According to Garafolo, the damage was limited to Fowler’s ACL, and no other ligaments were damaged.

It’s worth mentioning that other players have come back during the season after tearing an ACL this early in the year like Chargers OLB Melvin Ingram. However, the Jaguars may very well elect to place him on season-ending injured reserve and give him the time he needs to get back to 100 full health.

This is just horrible news for such a young player.

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During Friday’s minicamp practice, Jaguars first-round pick DE Dante Fowler went down with a knee injury and was later carted to the team’s locker room.

Here’s a video of the incident:

Jags new Leo pass rusher Dante Fowler Jr tweeks knee at rookie mini camp. Was walking with trainers and carted later. pic.twitter.com/nkl8aoqC6x

— Chad Weeks (@cweeks85) May 8, 2015

Jaguars HC Gus Bradley told reporters after practice: “He’s being evaluated. We’ll know more tonight.”

Former NFL team physician, David Chao, mentions that Fowler’s injury is consistent with an ACL/MCL tear.

Hopefully for the Jaguars, everything checks out fine regarding the No. 3 overall pick in the draft. Jacksonville looked to have shored up a big need at pass rusher with Fowler, who some believed was the best player in this year’s draft class.

During his three years at Florida, Fowler recorded 140 tackles, 14.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and two pass defenses.

We’ll have more updates regarding Fowler and his injury as the news is available.