JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jacksonville tackle Tony Boselli has a shoulder injury. What kind of injury, or how long it might keep him out, remains a mystery.

"Shoulder. Shoulder. Shoulder," Jacksonville coach Tom Coughlin repeated Monday, deflecting three straight questions about the right shoulder ailment that popped up suddenly last week and kept Boselli out of Sunday's 23-14 loss to Cleveland.

When Boselli's name showed up on the injury report last Thursday, Coughlin said it was because of normal wear and tear and didn't think he would miss time.

Turns out, the Pro Bowl left tackle was scratched about an hour before game time, a decision that took several players, including Boselli's replacement, by surprise.

"I didn't see it coming," said second-year lineman Aaron Koch, who had taken about 30 NFL snaps at left tackle before Sunday. "I think everybody was shocked, because of the kind of player he is."

Coughlin said Boselli's late scratch shouldn't have surprised anyone.

"I think they knew it was a game-time decision," he said.

Boselli was unavailable for comment Monday. Last Thursday, when he showed up on the injury report, he played it coy.

"I'm not the best judge of injuries," he said. "To get a straight answer, you'd have to talk to the medical staff or coach Coughlin. They could give you a better answer."

So far, the answer isn't forthcoming.

Coughlin said Boselli needs to regain strength in the shoulder to play. He said the shoulder will probably need surgery, but not until the offseason.

The coach plans to give Koch more work in practice at left tackle, and will keep trying converted defensive lineman Gannon Shepherd at the position, too. But he isn't thinking about a long-term replacement yet.

"I'm always going to hold out that Tony's going to play," Coughlin said.