Jaguars TE Julius Thomas Could Miss First 3 Weeks Of 2015 NFL Season

One of Jacksonville Jaguars acquisitions is likely to miss the early part of the upcoming NFL regular season. Tight end Julius Thomas will need surgery on his broken right hand, and will most likely miss the first three weeks of the new season if he decides to go under the knife.

David Caldwell, the general manager of the Jaguars, confirmed to ESPN Monday that Thomas would have a second medical opinion on the broken hand on Tuesday before making the decision if he wants to undergo surgery.

Thomas, who signed a five-year deal worth $46 million with the Jaguars last March, is considered one of the Jaguars’ best offensive players for the upcoming season. The 27-year-old tight end previously played for the Denver Broncos from 2011 to 2014, and has made the NFL Pro Bowl team twice, in 2013 and 2014.

Thomas’ new contract in Jacksonville makes him the highest paid player in the team.

"He had a follow-up appointment today and just had some discomfort in there and they re-did some tests and it showed some loosening of the ligament," Caldwell said via Florida Times-Union. "He could probably play with it, but if we let it go and it's still loose, then we're at Week 4 or 5 in the season and he needs surgery. It would be us being aggressive. Our most realistic case is he has surgery and he's back for Indy."

Last season, Thomas had 489 receiving yards on 43 catches with 12 touchdowns in 13 regular season games, and added 53 receiving yards on six catches in one playoff game.