One of the few bright spots during a horrible 2021 season for the Jacksonville Jaguars was the dynamic return ability of Jamal Agnew. But in a Week 1 game against the Washington Commanders, Agnew’s only action on special teams was diving on a punt that looked like it may have bounced off a Jaguars player.
Jaguars special teams coordinator Heath Farwell isn’t worried about teams trying to limit Agnew’s chances, though.
“Every team is trying to avoid him, they’re going to try to kick touchbacks anyway they can,” Farwell said Thursday. “[The Commanders] were fortunate to have a guy that can do that. But, the reality is, as legs get tired, they won’t be able to kick those deep.
“So, we may only get one opportunity, and that’s what we talked to our guys about, is that you may only get one opportunity because they’re trying to kick touchbacks. We got to be ready at any point. So, those plays will come and I think as the year goes on, it gets colder, the legs get more tired, the ball is shorter, now all the sudden they can’t kick those touchbacks. Those plays will come.”
Agnew, 27, returned a kickoff 102 yards for a touchdown late in a Week 2 loss to the Denver Broncos last season. A week later, he returned a field goal miss 109 yards for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals. Agnew’s season eventually ended early due to a hip injury suffered in November.