Category: D.J. Chark

A bigger, faster DJ Chark showcases Urban Meyer’s emphasis on sports performance

According to James Palmer, Chark has gained 10 pounds this offseason. However, apparently he has only gotten faster in the process.

D.J. Chark is quickly developing into a receiver who is simply unfair. The 6-foot-4 pass-catcher already had excellent size and a large frame for a No. 1 receiver, and now, according to a report from the NFL Network’s James Palmer, he’s gained 10 pounds, putting his weight at 210.

However, don’t expect the extra muscle to slow him down. Palmer said on Twitter that in spite of the weight increase, Chark has actually gotten faster this offseason.

As Palmer mentions, performance has been a major emphasis for Meyer and his staff since he arrived in Jacksonville.

“We’re having a serious conversation about a facility here, a brand-new facility,” Meyer said in March. “I’ve put together a sports performance team that I expect to be the best in the NFL.”

With struggles at the quarterback position in 2020, Chark saw his production drop off a bit. After cracking 1,000 yards for the first time in his career in 2019, he only had 706 yards and five touchdowns (a decrease from the eight he scored the previous season).

Still, he’s one of the top young receivers in the league in spite of average (at best) quarterback play during his time in Jacksonville. A big receiver with excellent ball skills, a bigger, faster Chark is a scary thought for the AFC South and the NFL at large.

D.J. Chark celebrates becoming a girl dad with some bling

The Jaguars receiver bought a pendant and chain for his daughter, who is due in May. All in all, the piece is estimated to be worth $50,000.

What do you do when you’re an NFL star with over $3 million in career earnings who’s excited about the birth of your first child? Why, you buy some flashy jewelry to commemorate it.

Jacksonville Jaguars receiver D.J. Chark, who is coming off his third season in the league, is set to become a father before the team next takes the field. The 24-year-old and his wife, Chantelle, are expecting their daughter, Mackenzie, in May. And according to a report from TMZ, Chark wanted a special piece ready to celebrate it.

He purchased a diamond-covered pendant that features the engraved message “Mommy and Daddy love you,” as well as her name engraved into the side of the gold ring

The pendant alone contains 15 carats of diamonds and 80 grams of gold, while the chain that goes with it has 150 grams of gold and 20 carats of diamonds. All in all, the piece is reportedly worth around $50,000.

We wish Chark and his family all the best during this exciting time.

Jags Week 12 inactives: QB Gardner Minshew to sit out vs. Browns

The Jacksonville Jaguars released their list of inactives for Week 12’s game, and after being ruled questionable on the final injury report, quarterback Gardner Minshew II (thumb) will miss another game. That means Jake Luton will be serving as the …

The Jacksonville Jaguars released their list of inactives for Week 12’s game, and after being ruled questionable on the final injury report, quarterback Gardner Minshew II (thumb) will miss another game. That means Jake Luton will be serving as the backup to veteran Mike Glennon as the Jags host the Cleveland Browns.

Of course, three of the four players who were ruled out on the final injury report surfaced on the inactives list, too. Those players were cornerback Sidney Jones and receivers D.J. Chark (ribs) and Chris Conley (hip). The other player to be ruled out Friday, Andrew Norwell, was placed on injured reserve Saturday with a forearm injury.

Luckily, the Jags got Laviska Shenault Jr. back at receiver from a hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined a few weeks. The team also promoted receiver Trey Quinn from the practice squad to give them four active players at the position Sunday.

The last notable listed on the inactives list was running back Dare Ogunbowale (hand), who was ruled questionable Friday as a late addition to the injury report. However, the Jags promoted running back Craig Reynolds from their practice squad Saturday to fill his spot, which marks the second-year players first active game as a Jag.

Jags Week 12 injury report: CB Sidney Jones, WR D.J. Chark amongst notables ruled out vs. Browns

The Jacksonville Jaguars ruled four players out for Week 12’s game against the Cleveland Browns, many of which were starters. On offense the starting players ruled out were receiver D.J. Chark (ribs) and guard Andrew Norwell (forearm). Receiver …

The Jacksonville Jaguars ruled four players out for Week 12’s game against the Cleveland Browns, many of which were starters. On offense the starting players ruled out were receiver D.J. Chark (ribs) and guard Andrew Norwell (forearm). Receiver Chris Conley (hip) will also be joining them after not practicing Friday.

On defense, starting cornerback Sidney Jones IV (Achilles) was the lone player ruled out, leaving Tre Herndon as the Jags’ lone starter at the position.

Chark, Norwell, and Conley surfaced on the injury report after last Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Norwell was expected to miss Week 12’s game as Doug Marrone informed the media that the veteran’s injury would take some time to recover from earlier in the week. Tyler Shatley or rookie Ben Bartch will replace him in the lineup after both registering starts already this season.

Jones’ injury leaves the Jags in a tough predicament because they just placed cornerbacks C.J. Henderson, D.J. Hayden, and Chris Claybrooks on injured reserve. As a result, they are in a situation where they may have to start rookies Luq Barcoo and Josiah Scott Sunday against the Browns. It would mark the first starts for both players, unless the Jags go with veteran Greg Mabin, who was picked up off waivers this week.

The Jags also had two players surface as questionable on the final injury report in running back Dare Ogunbowale (hand) and quarterback Gardner Minshew II (thumb). Minshew will likely be inactive Sunday as he continues to recover from his injury.

As for the other changes on the injury report, receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (hamstring) and safety Jarrod Wilson (shoulder) were upgraded to full participation while Aaron Lynch (shoulder) was limited as a late addition.

Shenault’s status in particular is huge news as he’s missed the Jags’ last two games. With Conley and Chark out, he will see ample opportunities on the perimeter and has a chance to turn in a strong game when considering the status of Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (calf strain), who was ruled out this week.

Watch: Jake Luton starts career with a bang, tosses a 73-yard touchdown in first drive

It didn’t take long for rookie Jake Luton to get comfortable as he tossed a 73-yard bomb to DJ Chark for a touchdown in his first drive.

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie quarterback Jake Luton got his first start in the NFL and it didn’t take long for him to make a statement. In the first drive of the game and his second passing attempt, the rookie was able to hit receiver DJ Chark Jr. for an explosive 73-yard passing touchdown, putting the Jags on the board first by a score of 7-0.

The play happened on a third-and-eight play where Chark lined up at the bottom of the formation. The coverage appeared to be a variation of three-deep zone, however, cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III lost track of Chark, who split the area between the young him and the safety. At that point, it was off to the races and the Texans’ defense was left trailing one of the best deep threats in football.

Unfortunately, the Texans scored a touchdown (courtesy of Brandin Cooks) and a field goal (by Kaʻimi Fairbairn) on their next two drives to put the game at a score of 10-7. With that being the case, there could be a shootout on the horizon because both the Jags’ and Texans’ defenses are proving to struggle early as they’ve done all season.

DJ Chark ties the knot during Jags bye week

Jags receiver DJ Chark use his bye week in a different way than many others and became a married man.

While some players on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ roster are using the bye week to rest up, receiver DJ Chark spent his in a different way. The third-year receiver, who revealed he was engaged back in May, went ahead and tied the knot with his fiancée, Chantelle Baker, this week.

Through his Twitter page, Chark revealed that the two got married on the beach recently with a heartfelt message to his new wife, who he met back in high school.

While Chark hasn’t had the season he’d quite like on the field, things off the field are going well. In addition to his engagement and marriage, the Chark’s also revealed that they are expecting a child back on Oct. 15.

With such a huge moment occurring in his life and some time to heal up from his injuries, Chark could return from he bye week better than ever. He’ll enter Week 9 with 26 carries for 291 yards and three touchdowns, which still has him on track for a 1,000-yard season.

D.J. Chark set to return to practice as a limited participant

D.J. Chark will be back on the practice field for the Jags Wednesday as they prepare for the Bengals.

The absence of Jacksonville Jaguars receiver D.J. Chark proved to be a big issue for the team against the Miami Dolphins, which is why many fans are watching his situation with a close eye. According to coach Doug Marrone, Chark will be back on the practice field Wednesday as a limited participant after surfacing on last week’s injury report with chest and back injuries.

Last Monday is when Chark surfaced on the Jags’ injury report as a limited participant. As the week went on, he was downgraded and didn’t participate in the Jags’ last practice before they took the field against the Dolphins. That came in the process of him being ruled questionable on the final injury report and downgraded to OUT Thursday afternoon.

Last week and earlier this week, Marrone said Chark was awaiting some test results before his return and it seems the results were good enough for Chark to practice. That’s especially huge news for  quarterback Gardner Minshew II and the Jags’ offense, who couldn’t get much of anything going against the Dolphins.

Of course, we’ll still have to monitor Chark’s progress throughout the week as the Jags will release two more injury reports after Wednesday’s. We’ll also be sure to monitor Brandon Linder’s situation as he’s expected to return into the starting lineup after sustaining a knee injury Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans.

Report: D.J. Chark ‘trending upward’ for game vs. Dolphins with chest and back injuries

Jags WR DJ Chark will be a game time decision for Thursday night, but NFL insider Tom Pelissero reported that he’s ‘trending upward.’

While we will ultimately know his status closer to the game, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark is trending in the right direction health-wise for tonight’s Thursday Night Football battle against the Miami Dolphins.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero was able to provide an update on the third-year receiver early Thursday morning after Chark was limited in practice Monday and Tuesday, but missed Wednesday’s session and was ruled questionable on the final injury report.

If Chark can play, it would give Gardner Minshew II his top target as Chark accumulated 73 catches for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns in 2019 and went to the Pro Bowl. This year, Chark has only managed to garner seven catches for 109 yards and a touchdown, but that’s been because Minshew has done a good job spreading the ball around.

Having Chark suit up could also be a huge issue for the Dolphins as they ruled out starting cornerback Byron Jones with a groin and Achilles injury. Starting in his place will be first-round rookie Noah Igbinoghene, who had a rough Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, allowing seven completions for over 140 yards and two touchdowns. With that being the case, our comrades over at Dolphins Wire believe Miami should utilize Xavien Howard to cover Chark if he plays.

If Chark is held out of the game, things could be a little closer, but still favorable for the Jags. Their depth at receiver is on a strength of the team and there are several others who could step up in the absence of Chark like Keelan Cole or Dede Westbrook (who was inactive Weeks 1-2). They’ve also received solid contributions from rookies Laviska Shenault Jr. and Collin Johnson.

Clearly, we’ll know more about Chark’s status when the Jags release their list of inactives. However, if the Jags want to allow him more time to heal up, this might be the right time because the Dolphins have struggled mightily on defense.

Listen to the latest from Jags Wire’s own James Johnson and Phil Smith on their podcast “Bleav in the Jags.” Subscribe via Apple Podcasts and check out our archived episodes via Bleav Podcasts.

Jags move up 6 spots in USA TODAY power rankings after win vs. Colts

The Jacksonville Jaguars are on the move in USA Today’s power rankings thanks to some Minshew Magic.

The Jacksonville Jaguars opened their season up with a 27-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts and, of course, their surprising win has reflected in the latest power rankings by USA TODAY.

After being ranked dead last entering the season, the Jags found themselves at the No. 26 spot in Tuesday’s power rankings for Week 1. After an incredible day by quarterback Gardner Minshew II, USA TODAY analyst Nate Davis seems to be ready for a dose of Minshew Mania 2.0 just as the people of Duval are.

26. Jaguars (32): Nineteen of 20, including three TD passes – while engineering Week 1 upset? Why would you want anything but Minshew Mania in #DUUUVAL?

Minshew’s performance against the Colts’ defense was absolutely surgical and he ended up making history as a result. When looking at performances of 20 passes or more, Minshew’s 95% completion rate ranked fourth in NFL history.

Minshew wasn’t the only young player to show up big for the Jags as Laviska Shenault Jr., D.J. Chark Jr., and CJ Henderson were some of the few notables to contribute touchdowns and an interception, respectively.

As for the rest of the division, the Tennessee Titans remained in the top-10, coming in at No. 7 (dropped from No. 5). The Indianapolis Colts fell down to the No. 19 spot (from No. 7) while the Houston Texans remained at No. 19.

Listen to the latest from Jags Wire’s own James Johnson and Phil Smith on their podcast “Bleav in the Jags.” Subscribe via Apple Podcasts and check out our archived episodes via Bleav Podcasts.

Jags’ D.J. Chark projected to hit 1,100 receiving yards in 2020

The Huddle believes D.J. Chark will up his stats in 2020, which isn’t surprising when considering his performance at camp.

After having the strongest bounce-back year on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ roster, and maybe even the league last season, D.J. Chark Jr. will enter the 2020 season as one of the best-ascending receivers in football. Even with the Jags making three quarterback changes during the season, he was able to accumulate just over 1,000 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.

Based on how training camp has gone, Chark is the team’s best offensive player, which points to the third-year receiver being even better than he was in 2019. Our USA TODAY comrades over at The Huddle believe his numbers will see a slight increase in terms of targets, yards, and touchdowns, projecting him to acquire 80 catches for 1,100 yards and nine touchdowns.

Here is what they had to say about the third-year wide receiver who now has more help around him.

Chark caught 73 of 118 targets for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns as a sophomore while bouncing between QBs Gardner Minshew and Nick Foles. He was the No. 1 option for either quarterback whenever on the field, and he’ll again lead a pass-catching group that added Laviska Shenault Jr. in the 2020 NFL Draft and TE Tyler Eifert in free agency. Chark should be viewed as a high-upside WR3.

In addition to the pickups the Jags made for their passing game, it’s also worth noting they will also be playing under a new offensive coordinator in Jay Gruden. He seems to be a big fan of Chark, who has looked like the MVP of Jags training camp. In fact, just last week Gruden said it was hard to find a weakness in Chark’s game.

Not too soon after Gruden joined the Jags’ staff, he stated that he would look to play Chark from multiple receiving positions and that definitely should help his production. If rookie receivers Laviska Shenault and Collin Johnson can cause size mismatches for the Jags’ opponents like most feel they can, Chark definitely could hit the 1,100-yard mark, especially as the No. 1 weapon on the unit.

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