Ad Disclosure
After terrorizing SEC offenses for three years in the Swamp, Dante Fowler ascended to the No. 3 overall pick in last weekend’s NFL draft. It was there he was taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the hope that the Sunshine State superstar could serve as the cornerstone of the team’s up-and-coming defense.
But after just one day in the NFL, it’s likely he’ll have to wait an entire year to get back on the field with his teammates.
Fowler tore his ACL on the first day of the Jags’ rookie minicamp, and it’s likely he’ll miss his entire rookie season as a result.
Dante Fowler Jr just went down holding left knee. Got hurt in 11 on 11.
— Michael DiRocco (@ESPNdirocco) May 8, 2015
Jaguars' 1st-round pick Dante Fowler tore his ACL and is out for the season, league source tells ESPN. Just wow.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 8, 2015
Before suffering season-ending torn ACL, Dante Fowler signed an injury protection waiver that obligates Jaguars to negotiate in good faith.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 8, 2015
That injury protection waiver may benefit Fowler’s bank account, but it won’t undo the sudden delay to the start of his pro career. And it certainly won’t benefit the Jags, a team with only nine wins in their last 48 games who will now endure another season without a top-5 draft pick.
No timetable has been set for Fowler’s 2016 return as of time of publication.
A former newspaper reporter who has roamed the southeastern United States for years covering football and eating way too many barbecue ribs, if there is such a thing.
