After missing four weeks, Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Julius Thomas is finally cleared to make his debut for the team that signed him in the offseason after a finger injury suffered in preseason kept him out of action, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Julius Thomas cleared to return for Jaguars
Jaguars tight end Julius Thomas is cleared to return and make his debut for the team that signed him to a big contract in free agency in the offseason.
Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Thomas, 27, suffered a broken finger in the first preseason game of the year for the Jaguars and eventually underwent surgery to repair it. Despite returning to practice earlier in the week, Thomas wasn't cleared to play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers all week before finally getting the green light to return on Sunday.
The Jaguars could certainly use the contributions of Thomas, who signed a five-year, $46 million contract with the team in the offseason. While the Jaguars are No. 18 in yards per game on offense, the team is averaging just 15.5 points per game despite Blake Bortles, Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns connecting for big passing numbers. Tight ends Clay Harbor and Marcedes Lewis have combined for just 12 receptions.
According to Schefter, Thomas is not expected to be limited in his debut against the Buccaneers, a team that boasts the NFL’s No. 2 pass defense in terms of yards per game allowed through the air.
Thomas earned Pro Bowl nods in each of the last two seasons while with the Denver Broncos, tallying 108 receptions for 1,277 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2013 and 2014.
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