While the Jacksonville Jaguars’ defense deserve a bulk of the blame for the team’s 31-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins, veteran receiver Chris Conley certainly didn’t help his unit. In particular, he had a couple of key passes hit him in the hands that weren’t hauled in, just adding to a day that was full of woes for the Jags.
As it would for any player, this left Conley frustrated and wishing he could’ve contributed more, however, he made it known that he would offer no excuses.
“Yeah, frustration level really high,” Conley told the media Thursday. “Personally, in situations where you come out and have an opportunity to start the game with a good drive, you’ve got to make every opportunity count. In that first drive, I let this offense down. No excuses about that. You got to make that play. But really as an offense, guys stuck together and went out there and kept scrapping.”
With the Jags needing someone to step up in the place of the injured D.J. Chark, Conley’s struggles surfaced early. In the third play of the night, quarterback Gardner Minshew II went to Conley on the sidelines for a play that would’ve given the Jags a first-down, however, the ball was dropped. Minshew also went to him for what appeared to be a deep post, and while the throw was questionable (multiple defenders were there), the ball last touched Conley’s hands then ended up on the turf.
By the end of the night, Minshew targeted Conley eight times but the veteran only registered three catches for 34 yards. That’s clearly not the result offensive coordinator Jay Gruden was hoping for between the two, and clearly, both are going to have to up their play Week 4 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
This isn’t the first time drops have come up next to Conley’s name as they were an issue for him last year (had seven, per Pro Football Reference). That certainly can’t help his chances to get an extension as 2020 is a contract year for him. Right now, he’s been outplayed by Keelan Cole (who is also on a contract year) and could lose out on a big opportunity.
Conley’s connection with Minshew will be one to watch heading forward with or without Chark. As a team captain and the Jags’ most experienced receiver, they simply need more from him if the Jags are to make any noise this season.