Jaguars rookie linebacker Quincy Williams out with knee injury

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jaguars rookie linebacker Quincy Williams’ fast start in training camp hit a snag on Thursday. 

Williams, a third-round selection out of Murray State, will be sidelined four-to-six weeks after suffering a meniscus tear, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. 

The Jaguars confirmed the report to News4Jax. The injury occurred during Thursday's training camp practice.

The injury is a blow for Williams, who had drawn positive reviews from the team and head coach Doug Marrone. Marrone said earlier this week that Williams “might be the fastest player” on the Jaguars.

The Jaguars are already thin at outside linebacker. With Telvin Smith skipping this season, the Jaguars had Williams, second-year man Leon Jacobs, and a handful of free-agent additions battling for playing time. 

If Williams does miss six weeks, it would put his return on Sept. 12, three days before the Jaguars Week 2 game at Houston. The Jaguars play at home the following Thursday night against the Titans. 

On his radio show Thursday, Doug Marrone said that he expected Williams to be available to play in the Sept. 8 opener at home against the Kansas City Chiefs.

"I don't think it was something that necessarily happened today, Marrone said. "I think it was something that he'd been actually playing with. It was a little bit sore but he was playing through it. Then, I think, a little bone bruise got a little bit tougher. A little bit different. We took a look at it and that's what we believe it is.

"Our expectation, what we're planning on as an organization is that he'll be ready and we'll have him out there for the first game."