On Wednesday, Bucky Brooks of NFL.com told readers not to be surprised if the Jaguars had the top ranked defense in the NFL in 2012. On Thursday, two key defensive players for the Jaguars were carted off the practice field at training camp with injuries.
Defensive end Austen Lane went down with a right ankle injury during drills according to reports and was unable to put pressure on it as he was helped off the field. Injured later in practice was linebacker Daryl Smith, the franchise's all-time leader in tackles, limped off the practice field late in practice with a strained groin and was carted back to the stadium with Lane.
Lane is in the midst of a battle with rookie Andre Branch for the starting defensive end opposite Jeremy Mincey, while Smith has been a starting linebacker for the Jaguars since the team drafted him in 2004.
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