Jags Lose Banks For Season

Jaguars running back Tavian Banks will miss the rest of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The team will place the second-year running back on injured reserve, probably Tuesday.

Banks hurt the knee late in Jacksonville's 30-7 victory over Atlanta on Sunday.

Coach Tom Coughlin considers it a key loss. Banks was beginning to emerge as a versatile weapon in the offense, lining up at running back on some plays, at receiver on others.

Jacksonville was using him to create matchup problems against opponents' base defenses on first and second downs. Banks closes his season with 82 yards rushing and 137 yards receiving.

"It affects our planning, it affects our versatility," Coughlin said. "We'll have to evaluate whether we have the ability to maintain that package. Tavian on a linebacker is not fair."

The injury occurred late in the fourth quarter when Falcons defensive back Ray Buchanan hit Banks after he had stepped out of bounds. Coughlin said it wasn't a cheap shot.

"I don't think Tavian knew he was out of bounds, I don't think Buchanan did either," Coughlin said. "It's very frustrating when you're trying to get a game over and you lose a quality player like that."

Receiver Alvis Whitted suffered a sprained knee that Coughlin said could keep him out of next week's game against Baltimore. Without Banks or Whitted, the Jaguars have only three receivers on the roster.

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