Anton Harrison On IR: Surgery Timeline Could Define Jaguars’ 2026

The Jacksonville Jaguars got their most exciting win of 2026 on Sunday in London, but they may have lost the most important part of their offensive line that same afternoon. Starting left tackle Anton Harrison was carted off the field at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the third quarter of a 19-17 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles after suffering a knee injury. What the team learns in the operating room next week could help determine how much damage that moment does to the rest of the season.

Here’s the latest we know:

Surgery Imminent (Reported)

Harrison has 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 to left. On the play in question, Harrison fell on a Bhayshul Tuten rush, apparently touching his right knee after coming loose on 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 making any conclusions on Harrison’s future availability.

By Tuesday morning, the picture had become clearer with NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler both reporting that Harrison was expected to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery following the team’s return from London. While the reports confirm the injury and the procedure, the open question is what the surgeon saw when inside the knee. The team has not confirmed the details of the injury, whether Harrison will remain in London until the Jaguars finish their Week 6 game against the Houston Texans, or whether Harrison will be able to return to Jacksonville immediately to start the recovery clock. Medical staff often prefer to allow inflammation to subside before performing arthroscopic surgery, which can be a factor in the timing decision.

According to reports from Rapoport and Fowler, the surgical findings could determine one of two different outcomes: Harrison could be out three to five weeks, putting him on the shorter end of the Injured Reserve window, or the procedure could reveal an injury big enough to cost him three to four months, effectively ending his 2026 regular season. The doctor will not know which result applies until the arthroscope is inside the knee. The difference between those two scenarios is huge 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 hopes of making the postseason.

Jaguar Schedule Through November:

With this slate, Jacksonville could weather the storm reasonably well, if a three- to five-week turnaround is the eventual prognosis.

With the morning report of a three-week minimum recovery, the team eventually announced that Harrison would be placed on Injured Reserve.

The roster move to IR is a bit of a given based on the timelines for the recovery and the Jaguars’ bye week.

NFL Precedents for Linemen

Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Myles Garrett, who recently underwent arthroscopic knee surgery, may be the most relevant and recent NFL comparable to Jacksonville’s expectations 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.

Walker Little seems to be the immediate answer at left tackle in the absence of Harrison, who stepped into the role for the final quarter against Philadelphia, providing zero quarterback pressures.

However, Little has experience on both the left and right side, starting 2026 in right during training camp, after losing the starting role in left to Cole Van Lanen in 2025. With his versatility and history, switching to either side is unfamiliar territory. That puts Jacksonville in a reasonably good position, all things considered. Cole Van Lanen also provides organizational flexibility for the line, should the situation call for more options, as he can also return to the left side, where he played before his knee injury in 2025. 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.

The possibility of a return from IR for Patrick Mekari adds another layer to the complex discussion of this offensive line. Jacksonville placed Mekari (back) on injured reserve with the designation to return during the final roster cuts in August. General Manager James Gladstone hinted at the possibility of a shorter return window for Mekari in early September, stating, “I think he’ll quickly reach the threshold to come back 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 will likely be elevated from the practice squad if Harrison is unavailable for Sunday. “I feel like we have good depth right now, so I think we’ll be fine,” Coen said.

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.