Category: DJ Chark

5 players who could break out for the Jags in 2021

Josh Allen wasn’t able to match his rookie season, but with a scheme more suited to his strengths, he should make a jump in 2021.

The Jacksonville Jaguars were one of the teams who went through the most drastic of changes this offseason after winning just one game last season. However, the positive part about their 2020 roster is that it was the youngest in the NFL, meaning there is a lot of upside and nowhere to go but up.

When looking at the Jags’ roster last season, there are several names from the 2020 roster who flashed, and some who didn’t, who could look even better in 2021 thanks to the new regime. Here’s a look at five of the most important ones who could drastically improve their performances from what fans witnessed a year ago:

D.J. Chark expresses that he wants pending free-agent WR Keelan Cole to return to Jags

Keelan Cole is a favorite amongst Jags fans and is a player they want to see re-signed in 2021. D.J. Chark shared those feelings Monday.

Once they get their head coaching situation sorted out, the Jacksonville Jaguars will have to decide what to do with their 27 free-agents. One of the most popular names amongst the group is that of receiver Keelan Cole, who will be an unrestricted free-agent if the Jags don’t re-sign him.

With Cole’s situation pending, many fans have expressed that they want to see him back. His good friend and fellow receiver, D.J. Chark Jr., echoed those sentiments on social media Monday by asking Cole if he would like to spend another year in Jacksonville, to which Cole responded “”Yesssir!! Run it,” via Instagram story.

Cole finished the season with a total of 55 catches for 642 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He also had 140 yards as a punt returner (with a touchdown) and three kick returns for 80 yards.

While the future isn’t clear, Cole himself has expressed that he would like to be back in November.

“When it comes to being in Jacksonville, I’m not really a party guy or anything and apparently Jacksonville doesn’t have that, so I feel really good here,” Cole said. “I like the warm weather, hate the cold, shoutout to Green Bay. I like the warm weather. I like being here, I like being a Jaguar. I’d rather be a Jaguar than a Falcon or a bird or some s*** like that.”

Ultimately, Cole’s future will depend on how the next regime views him. One thing in his favor is that the team will lead the NFL in salary cap, so there is certainly enough room to retain him.

Jags final Week 13 injury report: D.J. Chark set to return vs. Vikings

The Jacksonville Jaguars ruled five players out and three as questionable on their final injury report for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings. Of the players ruled out, two were starters on defense in nose tackle DaVon Hamilton (knee) and …

The Jacksonville Jaguars ruled five players out and three as questionable on their final injury report for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings. Of the players ruled out, two were starters on defense in nose tackle DaVon Hamilton (knee) and cornerback Sidney Jones IV (Achilles).

Hamilton, who injured his knee Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, was expected to be ruled out despite his injury not being as severe as it initially looked. He could be placed on injured reserve soon and it wouldn’t be shocking if it happened Saturday as the team could swap him out for nose tackle Abry Jones who is awaiting activation.

Jones, on the other hand, looked like he had a chance to play Sunday after being limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday. However, he was downgraded Friday and was listed as a non-participant. With him out, the Jags could start Tre Herndon and rookie Luq Barcoo on the perimeter as they did last week.

Linebackers Dakota Allen (hamstring) and Kamalei Correa (hamstring), and tight end Ben Ellefson were the other three players ruled out.

Starting right tackle Jawaan Taylor (knee) and starting safety Jarrod Wilson (shoulder) were two of the three ruled questionable alongside veteran receiver Chris Conley (hip). All three were limited Friday so a decision will be made on them Saturday when the team travels.

If Taylor can’t play, Will Richardson will get the nod at right tackle, while Andrew Wingard would likely be called on to start for Wilson. The Jags have options they could activate from their practice squad to make up for the loss of Conley like Terry Godwin and Josh Hammond.

The biggest takeaway from the final injury report was that receiver D.J. Chark Jr was left off of it. That means he’s set to return after missing Week 12’s game, which is a huge plus for veteran quarterback Mike Glennon.

3 bold predictions for Steelers vs. Jags

The Jags might not win Week 11’s game against the Steelers, but their offense I made to have success against Pittsburgh with James Robinson.

With them being established in 1995, the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-8) don’t have the history that other NFL teams do, but one team they’ve had some classic moments with are the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-0). As a result, they’ve established one of the league’s most underrated rivalries and will get to add the next chapter Sunday.

To the surprise of many, the Jags actually own this rivalry record-wise by a slim 14-12 margin, but the Steelers’ chances of closing that Sunday are high. At the same time, the Jags are one of the more dangerous one-win teams fans will find, and for that reason, the Steelers are on upset alert.

While we don’t believe an upset will be the result of Week 11’s game, it certainly isn’t out of the realm of possibilities. Regardless of the outcome though, here are a few bold predictions we could see unfolding in the Jags’ favor Sunday afternoon:

James Robinson snags a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown

Jaguars running backs have had their share of success against the Steelers, whether it was Fred Taylor in his youth or Maurice Jones-Drew who hurt them both on the ground and on special teams. Unfortunately, neither will suit up against the Steelers Sunday but a young ascending star named James Robinson will.

The undrafted rookie will come into the game leading all rookies in terms of scrimmage yards with 917, which is also good for the fourth-highest total in the NFL. That means he needs 83 yards to hit 1,000, which would make him the fifth undrafted rookie to do so in the common draft era. Although he may not have a 100-yard day rushing, chances are he will be able to hit the 83-yard mark when looking at his total scrimmage yard. In fact, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him get 100 total scrimmage yards, but with that, I think he helps fellow rookie Jake Luton by contributing a rushing touchdown and receiving one.

D.J. Chark explodes on the Steelers for 150 yards or more

While Luton is going up against a Steelers defense that ranks No. 6 overall and tenth against the pass, a solid day going deep to D.J. Chark shouldn’t be ruled out for the rookie. The main reasons for that is because we’ve seen the two connect deep early in Luton’s tenure and the Steelers have allowed two pass-catchers to register over 150 receiving yards on them this season. Those players are A.J. Brown of the Tennessee Titans and Travis Fulgham of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Chark is just as talented as both of those players with a Pro Football Focus grade of 74.0 and he’ll be up against two perimeter corners in Joe Hayden and Steven Nelson who have grades of 62.5 and 69.7, respectfully. That said, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him snag a few deep receptions as it may be Luton’s short-range accuracy that is the issue.

The Jags’ linebacking corps garners two turnovers

When it comes to garnering turnovers, the Jags linebacking corps may be the key. We’ve witnessed Myles Jack pick off Ben Roethlisberger in the past and the young linebacker is now a much better player. He’ll enter the game with the third-highest PFF grade at his position (85.7) and is playing at an All-Pro level this season. That’s partly due to having a coverage grade of 76.8, which could mean he’ll snag one against Roethlisberger, who has garnered a lot of wins in Jacksonville but has also thrown his share of picks against the Jags.

Another player whois quite familiar with Roethlisberger is MIKE linebacker Joe Schobert, who spent four seasons in the AFC North. In fact, just last year Schobert had a two-interception game against the Steelers, though it came while Mason Rudolph was the quarterback. Still, with him understanding Roethlisberger’s tendencies, don’t be shocked if he can snag a pick or force a fumble against a team he’s registered six starts against.

Stock up, stock down from Jags’ 27-25 loss to Texans

The Jags may have loss to the Texans Week 9, but there were several players who impressed like Jake Luton and DJ Chark.

The Jacksonville Jaguars found themselves on the wrong end of the win column after a grueling, yet competitive matchup against their divisional rivals in the Houston Texans. The Texans defeated the Jaguars by a score of 27-25 in a battle that was within reach for the Jags to win.

Despite the loss, there were some players who improved their stock, while others did the opposite. Lets take a look at four of those players who either stood out in a good way, or bad way.

Stock Up: QB Jake Luton

Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Jaguars rookie quarterback Jake Luton proved that he can play in the NFL. While he wasn’t perfect by any means, he played well enough to give the Jags multiple opportunities to win.

The sixth-round rookie out of Oregon State finished the game with a 68.4% completion rate (26-of-38) for 304 passing yards and a pick. He only had one touchdown pass, but it was a beauty and he even rushed for a 13-yard touchdown, which put the Jaguars in prime position to tie the game up. Unfortunately, the ensuing two-point conversion failed and the Jags would not be able to complete the comeback.

Luton has drawn some similarities to his sixth-round counterpart in Jags quarterback Gardner Minshew II, who he started for because of a thumb injury. With Minshew not even at the point where he can throw yet, he could be playing for an extended period of time, which means Luton has a chance to get better in time.

If Luton can replicate the success he had against the Texans, then head coach Doug Marrone will have an interesting decision to make when/ if Minshew is healthy enough to play.

Stock Down: DT Taven Bryan

Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

The Jaguars’ defense has been much maligned all year but the defensive line has truly had it’s fair share of problems. One of those problems has been the play of defensive tackle Taven Bryan this year.

Bryan has not played well this season, entering the week with a 54.5, per Pro Football Focus. Against the Texans, he finished with only two tackles and was actually benched in favor of reserve defensive lineman Doug Costin.

Bryan was selected with the No. 29 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Florida University. Since, he’s accumulated 62 tackles in his three seasons with the Jags, but he has only 3.5 sacks overall leading up to Sunday’s game against the Texans.

Sunday may have represented the Jaguars acknowledging that Bryan may not be the guy to anchor the defensive line and there could be a change in the offseason if the production doesn’t pick up.

Stock Up: WR DJ Chark Jr.

Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

It would seem preposterous that a Pro Bowl wide receiver and the best offensive weapon on the Jags’ team would have a falling stock, but it is the case as D.J. Chark Jr. has had a stretch of forgettable games in the past few weeks.

Through Weeks 5-7, Chark was only able to garner 11 receptions on 25 targets for 87 yards and has not found the endzone. Sunday’s game reminded everyone on how dominant he can be as he finished with seven receptions for 146 yards and a touchdown. Chark was targeted 12 times in the game, so it appears that Luton feels extremely comfortable looking Chark’s way whenever under duress.

If Luton retains the job, we could see more of these connections for the rest of the season.

Stock Down: CB C.J. Henderson

Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

It’s tough being a rookie in the NFL but it has been a huge trial by fire season for Jags rookie cornerback C.J. Henderson.

After being selected with the No. 9 overall selection out of Florida, Henderson has had a rollercoaster of a season as he currently has a disappointing 60.0 PFF grade with a 60.3 grade in coverage.

On Sunday, the rookie had a game to forget as he was the main culprit behind a huge 77-yard touchdown from Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson to wide receiver Will Fuller V. The rookie also committed an extremely costly 50-yard pass interference penalty on Fuller, which set up a one-yard touchdown from running back Duke Johnson. That score capped off a 98-yard drive from the Texans and the penalty played a large part in aiding it.

While Henderson was drafted to be the cornerstone of the secondary and while he is an intriguing athlete, the past few weeks have not been kind to him and his struggles against the Texans reflect that. Hopefully, he steps things up during the second half of the season as the Jags have some notable opponents coming up.

The good, bad and ugly from the Jags’ loss to the Texans

The Jacksonville Jaguars are now on a seven-game slide after losing 25-27 at home to the Houston Texans this afternoon. Sunday’s final results kept the Jags from becoming the first team in NFL history to concede 30-plus points in seven consecutive …

The Jacksonville Jaguars are now on a seven-game slide after losing 25-27 at home to the Houston Texans this afternoon. Sunday’s final results kept the Jags from becoming the first team in NFL history to concede 30-plus points in seven consecutive games.

Had the Jags allowed another 30-point game (or more), it would’ve marked the second time the team would’ve achieved an unwanted feat as they became the first team ever to drop three consecutive games to winless teams last time they faced Houston.

That said, here are the good, bad, and ugly talking points from Week 9’s defeat:

The good: DJ Chark is back in a big way

The best news coming out of this game is that the Jaguars now sit in sole possession of the No. 2 overall pick as the only one-win team left in the NFL.  However, fans shouldn’t let that distract them from the stars who are on the team currently like DJ Chark Jr., who bounced back Sunday in a big way.

After seeing his connection with quarterback Gardner Minshew II deteriorate to some degree in the last couple of games, Chark came out and put on a show. He ultimately finished the game with seven catches for 146 yards and a touchdown, giving him the highest receiving total in the whole game. He also reminded fans why he is one of the brighter deep threats in the NFL.

Myles Jack, James Robinson, and even Jake Luton flashed at times in Sunday’s game, but the biggest bright-spot for Jacksonville this Sunday was Chark because he now has the momentum he was desperately searching for.

The bad: Jay Gruden’s fourth down, 2-point conversion play-calling

There have been questions about Jay Gruden’s play-calling decisions since the team’s Week 2 loss in Tennessee. Whether it’s the persistence to have Minshew throw the ball 40+ times in five-straight defeats or that embarrassing fumble in the last game against Houston. The true failures of Gruden’s tenure in Jacksonville have been his lack of efficiency on fourth down.

After nine weeks of the 2020 season, only two teams have fared worse than the Jaguars when it comes to converting on fourth down as they’ve only converted on 28% of their tries, down from 48% in 2019. Today was a reinforcement of that as the team ran the same play on back-to-back third and fourth downs in the fourth quarter.

The Jags’ 2-point conversion rate is an improvement on this mark, currently sitting at 40% — also down on last year’s total (50%) — but still isn’t good enough. Today’s attempt failed due to an errant throw by Luton, but the decision to force a ball to Chark in double coverage seems odd.

The ugly: The Jaguars secondary

It is difficult to put into words just how putrid the Jaguars’ secondary is. Busted coverages, missed tackles, long touchdowns have been littered throughout the 2020 campaign and all three were rampant in today’s matchup.

For what feels like the first time all season, the Jaguars were able to get consistent pressure in the face of Deshaun Watson. Unfortunately for the front-seven, the former college football champion proved to be at his usual elusive best.

Despite the improved efforts from the Jaguars pass-rush, Watson still had two touchdowns on the day. Both were from 50 yards or further and came as a result of dismal play from members of the Jaguars’ secondary.

The first was a 57-yard catch and run from Brandin Cooks, who managed to squeeze between three Jags’ defensive backs and then scamper up the sideline leaving safety Jarrod Wilson in his wake.

The second occurrence was even more concerning, although the play should’ve resulted in a delay of game penalty. However, when the ball was snapped, C.J Henderson completely lost track of the ball as Will Fuller V adjusted to it behind the rookie’s back before turning the ball upfield for a 77-yard score.

If this secondary doesn’t play better soon, it’s difficult to imagine the Jaguars staying competitive the rest of the way. It’s especially concerning with the Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rogers up next as their offense is ninth in passing.

Postgame analysis: Jags extend losing streak to seven after interesting game vs. Texans

The Jags suffered their seventh consecutive loss of 2020 thanks to the Texans, but they made it competitive all throughout.

Due to injury, the Jacksonville Jaguars entered Week 9 with a new starter at quarterback in sixth-round rookie Jake Luton, however, it didn’t end with better results than their six games before. While their game against the Houston Texans was a close one, the Jags ultimately fell by a score of 27-19, bringing their record to 1-7.

In the beginning, Luton got off to the best start he could’ve possibly asked for  tossing a 73-yard bomb to DJ Chark Jr. in the first drive (during his second passing attempt) on the third play of the game. The pass was a beautiful one where Chark beat a variation of three-deep coverage by burning the secondary. As a result, the Jags got off to the fast start they’ve been hoping for all season and went up by a score of 7-0.

However, thanks to the Jags’ struggling defense, it didn’t take the Texans long to come charging back as their next two drives ended with a touchdown and field goal, respectively. The touchdown was a 57-yarder by Brandin Cooks who turned a 2-yard out route into a foot race up the sidelines. Afterward, Kaʻimi Fairbairn added three points, putting the score at 10-7 in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Jags were able to put up another touchdown, this time by rookie running back James Robinson. At roughly the 12:30 mark, he was able to spearhead a drive where he put together 47 rushing yards over multiple carries. Eventually, Robinson, Luton, and their teammates got the Jags to the 1-yard line where the rookie tailback pounded it in for six. Unfortunately, Josh Lambo missed the point after attempt, and the game was knotted up at 13-13.

Lambo later made up for his miss before the second half, kicking a walk-off 59-yard field goal before the half. The kick tied Josh Scobee for the longest in franchise history, adding to the young kicker’s achievements since joining the team.

Luton didn’t start the second-half as strong, throwing a pick to cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III on Houston’s 19-yard line, which ended up giving the Texans a scoring opportunity that they capitalized on. That play came from Will Fuller V, who caught a 77-yard touchdown on rookie C.J. Henderson.

The play was one where Fuller was running up the sideline and made a great adjustment on Henderson by cutting behind him to catch the pass. Not only was Henderson’s luck unfortunate at the moment, but so was Doug Marrone’s as the play clock had long expired before the snap. The veteran head coach rightfully pleaded his case with the officials, however, the play stood and the Texans extended their lead to 27-16.

That touchdown would prove to be all the Texans needed though the Jags rallied back with 10 second-half points. Three of those points came from Lambo on the following drive (through a 30-yard field goal) and the other six came from Luton, who dialed up some last drive magic and rushed for a touchdown. Unfortunately, Luton wasn’t able to convert the necessary 2-point conversion afterward, which would’ve tied the game at 27.

While the game ended up being a loss, it certainly was entertaining to watch, something the Jags have had the luxury of dating back to Week 7 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Luton’s first start was solid enough for him to remain the Jags’ starter while Gardner Minshew II heals, though he had several passing attempts that could’ve been picked. He ultimately ended the day, 26-of-38 for 304 yards, a touchdown, and a pick, but will have to be a little more careful next Sunday as the Texans missed a few turnover opportunities.

As for the Jags’ other standouts, Chark bounced back in a big way accumulating seven catches for 146 receiving yards and a touchdown. Robinson also had a solid day, falling one yard shy of 100 after garnering 25 carries.

Defensively, Myles Jack was unstoppable, accumulating 11 total tackles, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble. The Jags were also able to garner some rare sacks thanks to cornerback Tre Herndon (who had one) and Josh Allen and Joe Schobert, who combined for a sack. The pass rush also was quite active, moving quarterback Deshaun Watson off his mark, though he had some crucial rushing attempts.

Up next for the Jags will be the Green Bay Packers, who are currently 6-2 and lead the NFC North. That said, the Jags will have their work cut out for them as they travel to Lambeau Field and attempt to upset Aaron Rodgers, who is 2-1 at home this season.

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.

Jaguars injury report: A.J. Cann, several others upgraded to full participation Thursday

Jags guard A.J. Cann was one of three starters on the Jags injury report to be upgraded Thursday after missing practice on Wednesday.

The Jacksonville Jaguars upgraded several players to full participation Thursday in preparation for the Cincinnati Bengals. Among them were guard A.J. Cann (illness) and safeties Brandon Watson (knee) and Andrew Wingard (core muscle), all of whom were limited Wednesday.

Cann’s return to full participation was one many predicted, however, Wingard’s situation is good news as he left Week 3’s game against the Miami Dolphins in the second quarter. Watson was the player to replace him, which means that the Jags could’ve had low numbers at safety Sunday if either didn’t make progress health-wise.

The most notable name on the injury report , D.J. Chark, remained a limited participant in practice after missing last Thursday’s game. Earlier in the week, coach Doug Marrone said the team had been awaiting some tests for Chark to return to practice, and evidently, those tests came back good enough.

Another key name on the injury report who was limited was newly acquired kicker Stephen Hauschka, who didn’t participate in practice Wednesday. This could be a sign that he may be a full participant Friday and is trending to potentially be ruled probable on the final injury report.

The last notable name on the injury report was center Brandon Linder, who once again didn’t participate in practice after missing Wednesday’s session. The veteran has been recovering from a knee injury he sustained in the third quarter of the Jags’ Week 2 game against the Tennessee Titans, which caused him to miss Week 3’s game against the Dolphins. Tyler Shatley has been playing in his spot since the injury and that would once again be the case Sunday if Linder can’t suit up.

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.

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.