Jaguars starting offensive guard Andrew Norwell among five players activated from COVID-19 list

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Going into Sunday's game against New England Patriots, the Jaguars will have two starting offensive linemen available to play.

Starting left guard Andrew Norwell was activated off the COVID-19 list Saturday and will be only starting offensive linemen available besides right tackle Jawaan Taylor. The Jaguars' roster has been ravaged from players going on the virus list, including starting left tackle Cam Robinson, right guard Ben Bartch and center Brandon Linder.

Joining Norwell coming off the COVID-19 list Saturday were defensive tackles Malcolm Brown, DaVon Hamilton, tight end Chris Manhertz and defensive end Jihad Ward.

On Friday, Jaguars starting outside linebacker Josh Allen was among seven players, including linebacker Myles Jack and wide receiver Laviska Shenault, activated from the COVID-19 list.

Joining Allen and Shenault were starting middle linebacker Damien Wilson, tight end Luke Farrell, defensive end Jordan Smith and running back Travis Etienne. Etienne, who suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury. returns to injured reserve.

Allen, Jack, Shenault and Wilson are all starters who are likely to play Sunday against the New England Patriots, even though Friday was their first practice of the week.

However, the Jaguars announced Friday afternoon that starting cornerback Shaquill Griffin was placed on the virus list and Saturday, edge rusher Dawuane Smoot joined him.

Defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi cleared COVID-19 protocols and will coach Sunday, but defensive quality control coach Patrick Reilly did not clear protocols and will not coach against the Patriots.

The Jaguars had until 4 p.m. Saturday to activate any additional players from the COVID-19 that come back with negative tests to be eligible to play Sunday. The Jaguars also reserved a second chartered flight on standby to fly those players to the game if necessary, Bevell said.

As of Friday, the game against the New England Patriots expected to go forth as scheduled and not be postponed to Monday or Tuesday like the NFL did in Week 15 for games between the Raiders-Browns and Seahawks-Rams.

''I haven't heard anything and all the communications is the game is on,'' Bevell said.

COVID Impacted: Jaguars' Trevor Lawrence starting against Patriots despite COVID-depleted offensive line

Jaguars vs. Patriots: Week 17 staff predictions

The NFL made a significant change to its virus protocol last week cutting the isolation time to five days for all players who test positive for COVID-19 and their symptoms improve. NFL's new protocol is the same guideline the Centers for Disease Control recommends.

As of Friday, Jaguars players on the COVID list included tight end Jacob Hollister, defensive tackle Jay Tufele, outside linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson, tight end Dan Arnold, defensive end/outside linebacker Lerentee McCray, nickel cornerback Rudy Ford, wide receiver Josh Hammond, return specialist Jaydon Mickens, linebacker Dylan Moses, safety Andrew Wingard, and offensive lineman Jared Hocker

''Every team in the NFL is going through it,'' defensive coordinator Joe Cullen said. ''When the ball’s kicked off at one o’clock, we’ll have a team on the field ready to compete to the best of our ability to win the game.”

The Jaguars elevated nine players for Sunday's game from the practice squad as replacements for the existing players on the COVID-19 list: Cornerback Lorenzo Burns, defensive tackle Doug Costin, wide receiver Jeff Cotton Jr., running back Nathan Cottrell, offensive tackle DJ Fluker, who was signed Friday, defensive back Michael Jacquet, safety Bradley McDougald, offensive lineman Badara Traore and Tre'Vour Wallace-Simms.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars starting linebacker Josh Allen among seven players activated from the COVID-19 ist