The Jaguars won in London but lost Anton Harrison. Now they wait on a surgery timeline with two very different outcomes.
The Jacksonville Jaguars picked up the most exciting win of 2026 on Sunday in London, but may have lost the most important piece of their offensive line in the same afternoon. Starting left tackle Anton Harrison was carted off the field at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the third quarter of the 19-17 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles after suffering a knee injury. What the team learns in the operating room over the next week could go a long way toward determining just how much damage that moment inflicted on the rest of the season.
Here’s the latest on what we know:
Surgery Imminent (Reportedly)
Harrison had missed just three games in his first three NFL seasons since being drafted 27th overall out of Oklahoma in 2023. The Jaguars recently picked up his fifth-year option in April, with a flip from right tackle to left. On the play in question, Harrison went down during a Bhayshul Tuten rush, appearing to grab his right knee after disengaging from his block against Eagles defensive lineman Moro Ojormo. On Monday, head coach Liam Coen confirmed the team was awaiting the results of further tests and imaging before drawing any conclusions on Harrison’s future availability.
By Tuesday morning, the picture became considerably clearer with NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler both reporting that Harrison is expected to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery following the team’s return from London. While the reports confirmed the injury and procedure, the open question is what the surgeon finds once inside the knee. The team has not yet confirmed the injury, whether Harrison will remain in London until the Jaguars conclude their Week 6 preparations against the Houston Texans before flying back for the procedure, or whether he will return to Jacksonville immediately to get the recovery clock started. Medical staff can often prefer to allow swelling to subside before performing arthroscopic surgery, which may factor into the timing decision.
The Two Timelines
According to the reports from Rapoport and Fowler, the surgical findings will determine one of two very different outcomes: Harrison could be out as few as three to five weeks, placing him on the shorter end of the Injured Reserve window, or the procedure could reveal damage significant enough to cost him three to four months, effectively ending his 2026 regular season. The doctor will not know which outcome applies until the arthroscope is inside the knee. The difference between those two scenarios is enormous for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. A three-to-five-week absence puts Harrison back on the field before the end of November. A three-to-four-month timeline ends his year, with a hope for post-season availability.
NFL Precedents for Linemen
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 29: Defensive end Myles Garrett #95 of the Cleveland Browns wrms up before a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on September 29, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Myles Garrett, who recently underwent arthroscopic knee surgery, could be the most relevant and recent NFL comparable to what Jacksonville is hoping for from Harrison. Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in mid-September and was placed on Injured Reserve. The expectation when Garrett went on IR was that he would be ready to return after completing the mandatory four-game minimum.
In the Meantime: Options
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 11: Cole Van Lanen and Walker Little of the Jacksonville Jaguars come out of the tunnel before the 2026 NFL London Games match between Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 11, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
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Walker Little seems to be the immediate answer at left tackle while Harrison is out, having already stepped into the role for the final quarter against Philadelphia, giving up zero quarterback pressures.
However, Little has experience on both the left and right sides, starting 2026 on the right during training camp, after losing the starting role on the left to Cole Van Lanen in 2025. With his flexibility and history, transition to either side is not unfamiliar territory. This places Jacksonville in a reasonably fine position, all things considered. Cole Van Lanen also provides organizational flexibility for the line, should the situation require additional options, as he could also flip back to the left side, where he played before his 2025 knee injury. Based on the team’s history of always prioritizing linemen with positional flexibility, the possibility of a post-bye week offensive line shuffle could be on the table to get the best five on the field.
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - JUNE 10: A detailed view of the back of Patrick Mekari #65 of the Jacksonville Jaguars jersey during a Jacksonville Jaguars mandatory minicamp at Miller Electric Center on June 10, 2025 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Logan Bowles/Getty Images)
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The possibility of a return from IR for Patrick Mekari adds an additional layer to this complex offensive line discussion. Jacksonville placed Mekari (back) on injured reserve with a designation to return during the August final roster cuts. General Manager James Gladstone hinted at the possibility of a shorter-window return for Mekari in early September, stating, “I think he’d be quickly thereafter the threshold for return to get in.” If Mekari’s 21-day practice window opens this week or during the bye, that provides additional swing tackle and guard depth, while providing more options for different line combinations. Coach Coen, on Monday, confirmed that outside help is unlikely and that a player would likely be elevated from the practice squad if Harrison were unavailable for Sunday. “I feel like we have pretty good depth right now, so I think we’ll be all right,” Coen stated.
The Jaguars’ Week 6 game against the Houston Texans is scheduled for 9:30 (EST) Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, followed by the team’s Week 7 bye week.