Jourdan

Lewis

Strange makes his return from injured reserve against a Cardinals defense that enters Week 12 having allowed the 12th-most receiving yards (617) to opposing tight ends. Players returning from lengthy, injury-induced absences make for risky starts. Strange could be a tad rusty, and the Jaguars’ pass-catching corps looks quite a bit different than it did when he last played, in Week 5. Strange must be viewed as a highly volatile fantasy option this week. The Jaguars declared WR Brian Thomas Jr., CB Jourdan Lewis, RB Cody Schrader, EDGE Travon Walker, LB Yasir Abdullah, OL Anton Harrison and TE Hunter Long inactive for Week 12 against the Cardinals.

He did not practice all week with the knee injury, which we haven’t seen much about publicly. CBs Jarrian Jones (quad) and Jourdan Lewis (neck) are both questionable for the Jaguars as well. Walker’s absence will blunt their pass rush, perhaps helping Michael Wilson to another nice day on Sunday.

Lewis had a huge bounceback season in 2024, with a career-best 79.0 PFF coverage grade in 871 snaps for the Cowboys. It’ll be interesting to see if the Jaguars leave him in the slot, where he has played most of the last two years in Dallas. Jacksonville’s primary slot corner last year was 2024 third-rounder Jarrian Jones, with Tyson Campbell and Montaric Brown outside. It’s possible Lewis shifts Jones into a competition with Brown outside.

Lewis’ 729 snaps ranked as the third-most amongst Cowboys cornerbacks last season, as the seven-year vet now returns for another year with the team that took him in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Lewis started eight of the 16 games he appeared in last season, totaling 52 tackles and one interception while breaking up five passes. His PFF coverage grade of 43.0 was the lowest of his career, as he allowed 48-548-4 on 69 targets last season. Lewis played 610 of his snaps from the slot last season and will continue to play in a similar role next season.

Lewis is eligible to return whenever he’s ready to do so, as the veteran corner avoided starting the year on the PUP list. Lewis is expected to ramp up his workload in practice this week, but it’s still unclear whether or not he’ll suit up for Week 2 against the Jets.

Lewis missed the second half of the 2022 season after undergoing surgery to address a Lisfranc injury. Now healthy and added to the active roster, Lewis should regain his role as the starting nickel corner for the Cowboys.

Lewis had Lisfranc surgery after Week 7 and spent the final 11 games on IR. The Cowboys’ slot corner will be limited at OTAs but getting cleared to run gives him a chance to return this preseason and avoid the PUP list. Lewis, 27, is on the roster bubble on a secondary that added Colts CB Stephon Gilmore and fifth-round CB Eric Scott. Dallas can save $4.7 million in cap space if they release Lewis.

Lewis intercepted Jared Goff late in the game against the Lions but was injured on the play, which will go down as his final play of 2022. Lewis was playing meaningful snaps for the Cowboys as a slot corner, and his absence will be a blow to their defensive depth going forward.

DaRon Bland would be in line to replace Lewis as Dallas’ third corner. Lewis had started 31 games over the last three years and would be in danger of missing the entire season if the Lisfranc diagnosis is confirmed. Lewis will enter the third year of his three-year, $13.5 million extension next season and could be a cut candidate this offseason.

Per ESPN’s Todd Archer, Lewis’ injury actually came during pre-game warmups. Lewis was seen on the sidelines during the Cowboys’ first defensive drive, with rookie cornerback DaRon Bland taking over in his absence.