JACKSONVILLE – A tough task just got tougher for the Jaguars.
While preparing for a road game at AFC North-contending Baltimore, the Jaguars on Wednesday afternoon learned they will be without their leading rusher for the rest of the season.
They will be without one of their most dynamic playmakers, too.
Denard Robinson, the Jaguars' starting running back and a player with speed to score from anywhere on the field, will miss the rest of the season with a mid-foot sprain, the team announced Wednesday afternoon.
Robinson, after playing sparingly as a running back as a rookie last season, started at Tennessee in Week 6, then took over the No. 1 running back role the following week against Cleveland.
"He came in and was fighting for opportunities and reps as far as getting the ball," Bradley said as the Jaguars (2-11) prepared to play the Baltimore Ravens (8-5) at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, Sunday at 1 p.m.
"When he did, he had a period of time there where he put up some really good numbers."
Robinson rushed for 389 yards and four touchdowns in a four-game stretch against Cleveland, Miami, Cincinnati and Dallas just before the team's Week 10 bye week. He finished the season with 582 yards and four touchdowns on 135 carries.
"He ran extremely hard," Bradley said. "He did some really good things for us. He gave us some confidence, I think, in the run game because of what he did and what he showed. I thought he made really good progress."
Robinson likely will be replaced in the lineup by Toby Gerhart, Bradley said.
Gerhart, a veteran who started the first five games of the season after signing as an unrestricted free agent, has played through foot and ankle issues much of the season since a Week 1 injury at Philadelphia. He worked limited Wednesday.
Bradley said Gerhart got his usual repetitions Wednesday.
"We have to be really smart with Toby," Bradley said of Gerhart, who started the first five games of the season and who has rushed for 211 yards and a touchdown on 73 carries in 11 games. "He took some reps to get a feel for the runs. We didn't push it too hard with him. He should be OK. We just have to be smart in the early part of the week with him."
Offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch said earlier Wednesday that rookie Storm Johnson also could play a significant role in Robinson's absence, as could second-year veteran Jordan Todman. Johnson started Week 6 at Tennessee, but has been inactive the last six games with Robinson starting, Gerhart the backup and Todman playing a key role as a kickoff returner/special teams player.
"You'll see Storm, Toby and Jordan Todman," Bradley said. "You'll see those three guys and they'll split up the reps depending on situations."
Robinson likely will be placed on season-ending injured reserve later in the week. He is the third Jaguars offensive starter out for the season, with rookie wide receiver Allen Robinson (foot) and offensive tackle Austin Pasztor (hamstring) placed on season-ending injured reserve earlier this season.
Also around the Jaguars Wednesday:
*Defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks lost a sack from his season totals when a sack was removed from this past week's loss to the Houston Texans. Marks had been credited with a sack for touching Texans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick down in the first quarter. After review, it was determined that Fitzpatrick had tripped on a running play and not a pass play. Marks now has 7.5 sacks this season. …
*Defensive end Andre Branch missed practice with a groin injury after missing this past Sunday's loss to the Houston Texans with the same injury. Branch missed four games with the injury before reinjuring it in his first game back against the New York Giants November 30. …
*Linebacker Khairi Fortt missed practice with a hamstring injury that kept him out Sunday against the Texans. …
*Wide receiver Tommy Streeter (abdominal) worked limited Wednesday while quarterback Blake Bortles (right shoulder), defensive end Chris Clemons (knee), safety Josh Evans (finger) and linebacker J.T. Thomas (ankle) all worked full.
