Allen Hurns plans to play through injury, hopes to extend TD streak

JACKSONVILLE, Florida — Jaguars receiver Allen Hurns has one streak on his mind this week:

Consecutive games played.

Hurns has played in all 24 games during his two years in Jacksonville (2-6), and he doesn't expect a sprained left foot to keep him off the field Sunday at Baltimore (2-6).

"I don't want to let anyone down," said Hurns, who missed practice Wednesday as a precaution. "I'll fight through anything to make sure I'm out there."

With Hurns planning to play, the Jaguars surely would like to see him extend his other streak.

Hurns has a touchdown catch is six consecutive games. It's a franchise record, the longest active streak in the NFL and tied for the longest such scoring streak in the league over the last three seasons. Chicago's Alshon Jeffery (2014), Green Bay's Randall Cobb (2014) and New England's Wes Welker (2013) also accomplished the feat.

The last player to catch a TD pass in seven consecutive games was Dallas' Dez Bryant in 2012.

"It feels good after the game when people are talking about it," Hurns said. "But during the game and preparing for the week, I'm not really thinking about it at all. The main thing for me is staying consistent and continuing to do what I do each day. As long as I stay consistent and be available every game, I think those kinds of opportunities will present themselves."

Hurns has 36 receptions for 635 yards and six touchdowns this season, including a go-ahead, diving, twisting, staying-in-bounds, 31-yarder with 2:16 to play against Buffalo in London last month.

He followed that with a five-catch, 122-yard performance at the New York Jets last week.

And he's done it despite missing practices with ankle, thigh and now foot injuries.

"He's as tough as they come, for sure," quarterback Blake Bortles said. "No doubt about that. Mentally and physically, he's one of the tougher guys I've ever been around. ... If he can go, there's no doubt that he'll go play."

Hurns has come a long way since going undrafted last season. The former Miami standout went to training camp last season without the nearly as much fanfare as second-round picks Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson. But when Lee and Robinson missed games, Hurns stepped up. And when Lee missed all of the 2015 offseason as well as most of camp and the entire preseason, Hurns stepped into a starting role.

It's his spot now, one he won't relinquish even if Lee returns this week from a nagging hamstring injury or when rookie Rashad Greene (thumb) returns next week from short-term injured reserve.

"There was a lot of doubt (about me) coming in," Hurns said. "Being able to do things consistently, people started recognizing. It feels good. But at the end of the day, people need to know that me and Allen Robinson are just getting started. We've still got a lot of time to improve. That's what's exciting about it. We're just in Year 2 and look at the things we're doing. The main thing is to just stay consistent."

And stay on the field.

"It comes down to mental toughness," Hurns said. "Once I'm out there on the field I'm not really thinking about me. I'm thinking about the people around people as far as just being out there for my teammates. I know they're counting on me."


(dailyjournal.net)