The Jacksonville Jaguars placed cornerback Alan Ball on injured reserve Wednesday with a biceps injury, meaning their starting defensive backfield for the rest of the season will likely consist entirely of second-year players.
Ball, a seventh-year pro who the Jaguars signed to a two-year contract as an unrestricted free agent in March 2013, suffered the injury during their 24-6 victory Oct. 19 over the Cleveland Browns. After flying to San Francisco last week to get a second medical opinion, he wound up being among the six players listed as inactive for their 27-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
Ball started in 15 of 16 games a year ago and the first seven games of this season. He still has the only interception by a member of the Jaguars' secondary, with that coming in the second quarter of their opener Sept. 7 at Philadelphia.
All four starters against the Dolphins were players drafted in 2013, and that should again be the case Sunday at Cincinnati. Cornerbacks Dwayne Gratz and Demetrius McCray were chosen in the third and seventh rounds respectively, while strong safety Johnathan Cyprien was a second-round pick and free safety Josh Evans a sixth-round pick.
With Ball going on injured reserve, the Jaguars announced the signing of cornerback Tommie Campbell, who had spent the previous three seasons with the Tennessee Titans. Ball's injury and the loss of Will Blackmon to a broken left index finger means Campbell is now the most experienced cornerback on their roster.
You can follow Ken Hornack on Twitter @HornackFSFla or email him at khornack32176@gmail.com.
