Jacksonville’s youth movement on the defensive line has already hit a major roadblock.
The team’s third-round pick D’Anthony Smith will undergo surgery for a right Achilles tendon injury, according to Vito Stellino of the Florida Times-Union. If the tendon is torn as expected, that would probably knock Smith out for the 2010 season.
Smith was expected to get significant snaps in a big-bodied rotation behind first-round pick Tyson Alualu and overly beefy second year player Terrance “Pot Roast” Knighton.
This is one of those injuries that won’t make huge headlines, but takes away at what the heart of what G.M. Gene Smith is trying to do in Jacksonville, building their defense around stout run stoppers. Just like the franchise used to.
