Jaguars WR Marqise Lee carted off field after suffering gruesome knee injury vs. Falcons

Nate Davis | USA TODAY

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The worst aspect of preseason NFL football reared its head Saturday night in Jacksonville.

Jaguars receiver Marqise Lee was carted off the field after suffering a gruesome left knee injury while being tackled by Falcons safety Damontae Kazee. Lee's leg bent at an unnatural angle as he went to the ground. Kazee was penalized on the play for lowering his helmet.

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"I'm waiting for the doctor to tell me so I can tell you guys, but I know what I see," Jacksonville coach Doug Marrone said. "I'm not going to sit there and say it didn't look bad. It looked bad."

It could be a significant setback to the Jags, defending AFC South champions and widely viewed as a legitimate Super Bowl threat in 2018.

Jaguars WR Marqise Lee took a hit to the knee and is now being carted off the field.pic.twitter.com/DPXFUBHxqu — LeadingNFL (@LeadingNFL) August 25, 2018

Lee, who signed a four-year, $34 million contract in March, led the Jaguars with 56 catches in 2017. A second-round pick out of USC four years ago, he'd finally begun fulfilling his potential after languishing behind Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns for years. Lee was expected to be Blake Bortles' No. 1 receiver in 2018.

“You hate to see anytime, especially in the preseason, and to a guy like that who’s been through what he’s been through and plays with the passion that he does, and everything that he’s put into this team and getting ready for this season," said Bortles.

"It’s tough to see.”

If his injury proves as serious as it appeared, Jacksonville could have to rely on a very inexperienced group of wideouts that includes Dede Westbrook, Keelan Cole and rookie D.J. Chark.

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