JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars’ hopes of turning around a woeful start to the 2014 season took a severe jolt Monday when it was revealed that tight end Marcedes Lewis would miss the next six to eight weeks due to a high ankle sprain.

Lewis was off to a solid start and was one of the few bright spots in a struggling offense. He has a team-best eight receptions for 106 yards, including a 63-yard reception that proved to be the Jaguars’ only touchdown Sunday in a 41-10 loss to the Washington Redskins.

“Depending on the length of time, there could be a discussion with (injured reserve/designated to return),” Jaguars coach Gus Bradley said Monday. “I don’t foresee (placing him on injured reserve).”

Not only is Lewis a viable receiver with his 6-foot-6, 260-pound frame, but he also is a valuable blocker. With recently signed Mickey Shuler the only other healthy tight end on the roster, the Jaguars hope that Clay Harbor is ready to return to action after missing the preseason and the team’s first two games due to a calf injury.

The news wasn’t much better regarding the Jaguars’ situation at wide receiver. Jacksonville had just four healthy receivers activate Sunday, three of them rookies. Two of the rookies, Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns, were each targeted six times in Sunday’s game, with Robinson posting team bests of four catches for 75 yards. Hurns was held to two grabs for 13 yards, one of which came on the last play of the game and proved to be costly. His ankle twisted as he was tackled, and on Monday, Hurns was in a walking boot and on crutches.

“It could have been a lot worse, so I’m thankful it wasn’t,” he said. “I don’t think it’s that bad, and I’m still hopeful of playing this week.”

The Jaguars hope Hurns’ bad news will be offset by a favorable report on wide receiver Cecil Shorts. The team’s leading receiver from a year ago missed the first two games due to a hamstring issue.

“It feels a lot better than it did at this time last week,” Shorts said after testing his leg on some routes Monday morning. “We’ll have to wait and see how it is later in the week, but I feel good where I’m at.”

If Shorts and Hurns can’t go this week, the Jaguars likely would activate wide receiver Kerry Taylor to the 53-man roster from the practice squad.