The Jaguars were jolted early in Friday night’s 23-21 preseason-opening win over the Pittsburgh Steelers when tight end Julius Thomas landed awkwardly, sustaining a fracture on the back of his left hand.
Thomas’ injury occurred on the Jaguars’ second offensive snap. Immediately after catching Blake Bortles’ pass for a two-yard gain, Thomas was upended by Steelers cornerback William Gay.
Thomas, the jewel of the Jaguars’ offseason makeover, was examined on the sideline before walking to the locker room for X-rays.
Coach Gus Bradley called the injury, “a stable fracture,” said surgery is not needed, Thomas will have more tests Saturday and that he is out for the remainder of the preseason.