Anton Harrison – Syndication Server

Jaguars vs. Titans: Inactive lists include starting Jacksonville OT

The Jaguars will not have starting right tackle Anton Harrison against the Titans in Week 14, the club announced on Sunday morning, making him inactive for the matchup due to an illness.

Find Jacksonville and Tennessee’s full Week 14 inactive lists below.

Jaguars inactives

RB D’Ernest Johnson
WR Josh Reynolds
OT Anton Harrison
DE Myles Cole
DT Jordan Jefferson
DT Esezi Otomewo

Analysis: Harrison, Jacksonville’s first-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft, has started 12 games at right tackle for the Jaguars this season.

Cole Van Lanen, Blake Hance and rookie Javon Foster comprise Jacksonville’s active offensive tackle depth. Van Lanen, who has appeared in four games this season, is likely to start in Harrison’s place.

Most notably joining Harrison on Jacksonville’s inactive list is wide receiver Josh Reynolds, who the Jaguars added via waivers on Wednesday. Reynolds practiced with the team on Thursday and Friday.

Titans inactives

RB Joshua Kelly
WR Jha’Quan Jackson
OT Leroy Watson IV
LB Kenneth Murray Jr.
LB Jerome Baker
CB Roger McCreary
CB Gabe Jeudy-Lally

Analysis: The Titans’ defense will be shorthanded Sunday as three starters, linebackers Kenneth Murray Jr. and Jerome Baker and nickel cornerback Roger McCreary, were made inactive for Week 14. Each player entered the weekend questionable.

Gimme Him: One player Titans would steal from Jaguars

The Tennessee Titans have a major hole in their roster and this Jacksonville Jaguars player would be a great way fill that void.

The Tennessee Titans are coming off a complete meltdown against the Washington Commanders in Week 13 action. This week they have their first of two battles with their AFC South rivals the Jacksonville Jaguars.

That, of course, provides those of us here at Titans Wire the opportunity to hypothetically steal from the Jaguars’ roster in search of depth and/or talent upgrades.

The Titans do have some talent and some young players are starting to develop, but there are also major holes and depth could be used across the board.

The Jaguars are also a young team and are struggling. In fact, this game weighs more in the race for potential draft position than it does in the division standings. But there is talent and a couple of players could definitely help the Titans.

Titans quarterback Will Levis appears to be turning a corner, so Trevor Lawrence would not be an upgrade even if he were completely healthy. Lawrence was knocked out of his Week 13 battle with the Houston Texans and remains in concussion protocol.

Wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., tight end Evan Engram, tackle Walter Little and return specialist Devin Duvernay could all help in different ways and be potential targets, but one player outshines all of those: Offensive tackle Anton Harrison.

There is no doubt that the biggest hole in the Titans’ offense is at right tackle and there is no answer for that position currently on the roster. Harrison would fill that void the moment he entered the locker room.

A former first-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft out of Oklahoma, Harrison would add athleticism, size, talent, and youth to the offensive line and be a tremendous addition opposite JC Latham.

The Titans have tried five different linemen at the right tackle position in 2024 and none of them have seized their opportunity. With Harrison, they would have a young but experienced starter who could be in the fold for seasons to come. That would be a win.

What are your thoughts, Titans fans? Would you pick Anton Harrison or steal an entirely different player from the Jacksonville Jaguars?

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Jaguars vs. Texans: Key matchups

The Jacksonville Jaguars are coming off their bye week, ideally refreshed and refocused for their final stretch of the 2024 season as they host Houston this weekend.

This will be a crucial six-game marathon for the Jaguars as the future around the coaching staff and front office hangs in the balance following a lowly 2-9. On a positive note, franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence appears closer to returning to play this week after missing two games with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder.

While Jacksonville almost certainly won’t make the postseason, it could begin to cause some panic among Houston fans with an upset.

Jaguars Wire takes a closer look at some of the key matchups for this weekend.

Jacksonville WR Brian Thomas Jr. vs. Houston CB Derek Stingley Jr.

This one-on-one battle represents two gifted athletes who will be among the best players at their respective positions for years to come. Stingley has been playing at a high level this season and is one of Houston’s best defenders while Thomas has emerged as one of the better young wide receivers in the league and one of the faces of Jacksonville’s future.

It can’t be emphasized enough how crucial of a matchup this is. Thomas has played well the last several weeks and emerged as the Jaguars’ top playmaker this year. With Lawrence potentially back under center, the team’s first-round selection this year could see his target share increase.

Stingley is one of the best man-cover corners in the game. He uses his size, technique, and pure athleticism to shut down any receiver who lines up against him. Thomas offers the skill set to beat man defenders at will with the incredible fluidity, short-area quickness and ultra-explosiveness that has made him a three-level threat.

If Thomas wins this battle, Jacksonville will be one step closer to pulling off an upset.

Jaguars’ offensive line vs. Texans’ defensive line

For as bad as things have been for the Jaguars this season, their offensive line remains steady, especially in the interior. The team has allowed the sixth-lowest pressure rate in the NFL (28.7%) and will take on a Texans’ defense that ranks third in pressure rate (40.3%).

Winning in the trenches has been an up-and-down battle for Jacksonville all season and Sunday features a chance to win there on both sides of the ball. According to Next Gen Stats, Jaguars guards Exra Cleveland and Brandon Scherff and center Mitch Morse have all allowed pressure on under five percent of their pass-blocking snaps.

The edges are where it gets tricky as tackles Walker Little and Anton Harrison will be going up against Texans defensive ends Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., one of the best pass-rushing duos in the league. Jacksonville will need its young tackles to have quality starts to slow down Houston’s pass rushers.

This is not a favorable matchup for the Jaguars. It could be if Harrison and Little can stay consistent in their pass-blocking sets and generate momentum in the run game on the edges, which will be key in taking on the No. 5 defense in yards allowed.

Houston RB Joe Mixon vs. Jacksonville run defense

One of the stories of the Jaguars this season has been their putrid defensive play in almost all facets, especially against the run where they have allowed the seventh-most rushing yards in the NFL (135.5).

However, interestingly enough, they have defended the run well on outside-designed runs. Jacksonville has allowed the second-fewest rushing yards over expected (-65) and the seventh-lowest success rate (34.0%) on those specific play calls, according to Next Gen Stats.

Defensive ends Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker have been big reasons for Jacksonville’s success against outside runs. Walker is third on the team in run stops (35) and Hines-Allen has 23 on the season. Their power at the point of attack and discipline against the run has been very notable this year.

This week, they’ll take on Mixon, who has run nine of his touchdowns to the outside and has the fifth-most RYOE (+116) in that area in the NFL. Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik tends to use the outside zone to work away from the tackle box and stress defenders on the edges.

Setting the edge will be key for the Jaguars, especially against Mixon. Walker and Hines-Allen must do their job to squeeze their respective gaps and become force defenders to bottle Mixon inside.

If the Jaguars can limit Mixon’s ability to stretch the edge, Jacksonville will have a chance to pull off a nice victory on Thanksgiving weekend.

All-22 review: How the Jaguars can beat the Colts

The Jacksonville Jaguars enter Week 5 as the only winless team in the NFL following their 24-20 defeat at Houston last Sunday.

But not all hope is lost in Jacksonville as the Jaguars head into a potentially favorable matchup against Indianapolis.

Jacksonville has not played functional, sound football this year, although we saw the Jaguars’ offensive identity begin to emerge in their loss to the Texans.

This offense can balance the run with a dose of play-action and can take advantage of favorable explosive mismatches. If the Jaguars want to avoid sinking to 0-5 this weekend, their offensive game plan from last week gives them the best chance to win.

Sunday presents a Colts team without star running back Jonathan Taylor, likely without starting quarterback Anthony Richardson and with an underperforming defense that could lend the Jaguars their first win of the season.

Jaguars Wire reviewed the All-22 to present a few ways for Jacksonville to secure a victory against Indianapolis.

Lean on Trevor Lawrence and the rushing attack

The focus of this film review begins with the $275 million man, quarterback Trevor Lawrence, whose play is under scrutiny after a rough start to the season. It seems he is pressing as a passer, staring down targets and playing flat-footed at times. His footwork has certainly become a concern.

Lawrence has also shown to bail from clean pockets and put even more stress on his offense. Despite offering the pre-snap acumen required to operate as an NFL quarterback, he has been inconsistent with his post-snap awareness this season.

Some have called the former No. 1 draft selection “broken,” and while that might be the case right now, his issues are fixable.

Surprisingly enough, it is Lawrence and Jacksonville’s run game that makes the Jaguars go. If he can get into a stretch within games where he can play in rhythm more consistently, this unit will look much improved.

Using play-action more frequently could help with this as the Colts’ defense has allowed opposing quarterbacks to go 21-for-35 with 298 yards, one touchdown and one interception against such calls this year.

Entering Sunday, the Colts rank dead-last in the NFL in yards-per-game allowed, next-to-last in rushing yards and rushes of 10-plus yards allowed, and 25th in passing yards allowed.

Indianapolis’ defense has underperformed relative to its expectations which has cost the Colts games to this point. Jaguars running backs Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby could be in for plenty of touches and big play opportunities, accordingly.

Jacksonville enters the weekend ranked No. 2 in football in rushing yards per play and No. 9 in team rushes of 10-plus yards. This is an advantageous matchup for the Jaguars’ run game to explode onto the scene.

Jaguars’ improved trench play vs. Colts’ underperforming defensive front

One of the bright spots from Sunday’s loss to Houston was the steady improvement of Jacksonville’s offensive line and the trenches overall. In general, the Jaguars’ front five displayed better consistency in pass protection while opening up rushing lanes for Etienne and Bigsby.

Offensive tackles Anton Harrison and Cam Robinson were specifically better, especially in their pass sets moving rushers beyond the arc and giving Lawrence clean pockets. The offensive line also did a better job handling games such as twists and stunts, displaying better communication on this front.

However, when the offense looked to run a play-action with a set-slide protection, the line did not wash defenders out as cleanly as it needed to, allowing pressure on Lawrence almost immediately.

Still, this was the offensive line’s best performance of the season and the unit must build on it, especially against a subpar Colts defense.

Defensively, coordinator Ryan Nielsen knows how to make offenses one-dimensional. That’s what Jacksonville will have to do against Indianapolis’ rushing attack.

With players like linebacker Devin Lloyd and safety Darnell Savage Jr. expected to return from injury, the Jaguars should be able to limit the Colts’ big play opportunities on the ground.

The Jaguars’ consistent defensive line rotation has generated plenty of pressure from the four-man fronts deployed. Rookie interior lineman Maason Smith flashed at times against Houston, including an impressive swim move in the first quarter that got pressure on C.J. Stroud. He could present an intriguing rotational rush threat on passing downs against the Colts.

Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker were fantastic last Sunday with Walker producing a team-high seven pressures on 33 pass rushes and Hines-Allen recording six pressures on 19 rushes. Hines-Allen cleared concussion protocol on Saturday and is set to play.

Target Christian Kirk and Brian Thomas Jr.

The Colts’ passing defense remains an underwhelming unit in 2024 and that should leave Kirk and Thomas licking their chops at the opportunity for a productive weekend. Indianapolis has allowed the fifth-most yards in downfield passing attempts at 13.3, per Next Gen Stats.

Kirk saw his targets increase from four and three in Weeks 1 and 2 respectively to 10 and 12 against Buffalo and Houston. Kirk is very good at setting up defenders with hesitation moves and fakes along with great short-area quickness.

Furthermore, Kirk is light on his feet and offers smooth acceleration in and out of breaks. He was open on almost every target last week. Pederson and offensive coordinator Press Taylor must utilize him in motions and grant him free releases to create potential mismatches.

Thomas is already the most talented playmaker on the roster four games into his career, as he flashed vertical separation and the necessary quickness to cut routes short and work back to the football.

Next Gen Stats shows Thomas is leading all rookies in deep directions and receiving yards this season while his average route depth is the third-deepest among first-year receivers. His 16.2 yards per catch rank No. 14 among all qualifying NFL pass-catchers.

When Jacksonville attacks Indianapolis through the air Sunday, Trevor Lawrence needs to continue looking Kirk and Thomas’ way.

Doug Pederson updates six injured Jaguars starters entering Week 5

The Jaguars are banged up entering Week 5 and ahead of their second consecutive AFC South showdown, against the Colts at home on Sunday.

Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson provided updates for six hurt Jaguars starters Monday, including confirmation that star defensive end Josh Hines-Allen entered the NFL’s concussion protocol after taking a thud against Houston in Week 4.

Running back Travis Etienne Jr. (shoulder) and right tackle Anton Harrison (ankle) will “be fine” after getting hurt in the Jaguars’ 24-20 loss against the Texans, too, per Pederson.

Linebacker Devin Lloyd (knee) was somewhat surprisingly made inactive before kickoff in Week 4. He appeared on Jacksonville’s injury report last Thursday and was questionable entering the game, although Pederson said Friday that the linebacker was dealing with soreness and “should be fine.”

“[Lloyd] had just a contusion the week before. It was kind of sore during the week, hopefully he would make it. Just went to warm up prior to the game and just felt like he couldn’t give 100 percent, so we put him down,” Pederson explained Monday.

Tight end Evan Engram (hamstring) and safety Darnell Savage Jr. (quadriceps) each missed their third consecutive game Sunday. Savage entered the weekend questionable but was downgraded to out Saturday.

Pederson indicated Savage did not suffer a setback, but rather, he did not get to 100% athletically during practice last week, leaving him sidelined for at least one more game. Engram enters Week 5 “day-to-day.”

“I’m hoping Savage [will be available in Week 5]. He went last week. Pushed it pretty hard. Didn’t feel like he could really open up last week – not a setback, nothing like that. We’ve just got to get him to burst,” said Pederson.

“Evan, I think is going to be day-to-day right now. Felt good today, we’ll see where he’s at here in a couple of days.”

Jaguars vs. Texans: Friday injury reports and game statuses

The Jaguars and Texans have deemed a combined six players questionable and five players out of their Week 4, AFC South matchup in Houston.

Jacksonville will be without starting tight end Evan Engram for a third consecutive game, and starting linebacker Foyesade Oluokun for the first of what is expected to be several weeks.

Additionally, three starting Jaguars — wide receiver Gabe Davis, linebacker Devin Lloyd and safety Darnell Savage Jr. — enter the weekend questionable. So does Savage’s backup, Jarrian Jones.

Houston similarly won’t have a pair of starters available Sunday, wide receiver Tank Dell and safety Jimmie Ward. Starting running back Joe Mixon enters the game questionable while his backup, Dameon Pierce, is out.

However, star Texans receiver Nico Collins intends to play after joining the injury report on Thursday.

Find Jacksonville and Houston’s Friday injury reports and initial game statuses for Week 4 below.

* indicates status upgrade from the previous practice

Jaguars injury report

OL Cam Robinson (knee) — full*
OL Anton Harrison (knee) — full*
CB Montaric Brown (chest) — full*
RB Tank Bigsby (shoulder) — limited
WR Gabe Davis (shoulder) — limited
LB Devin Lloyd (knee) — limited*
CB Jarrian Jones (shoulder) — limited
S Darnell Savage Jr. (quadriceps) — limited
TE Evan Engram (hamstring) — did not participate
DL Arik Armstead (veteran rest) — did not participate
LB Foyesade Oluokun (foot) — did not participate

Jaguars game statuses

WR Gabe Davis: QUESTIONABLE
LB Devin Lloyd: QUESTIONABLE
CB Jarrian Jones: QUESTIONABLE
S Darnell Savage Jr.: QUESTIONABLE
TE Evan Engram: OUT
LB Foyesade Oluokun: OUT

Texans injury report

WR Nico Collins (hamstring) — full*
TE Dalton Schultz (ankle) — full
OL Kenyon Green (illness) — full
OL Jarrett Patterson (calf) — full
RB Joe Mixon (ankle) — limited*
DT Folorunso Fatukasi (shoulder) — limited
RB Dameon Pierce (hamstring) — did not participate
WR Tank Dell (chest) — did not participate
S Jimmie Ward (groin) — did not participate

Texans game statuses

RB Joe Mixon: QUESTIONABLE
DT Folorunso Fatukasi: QUESTIONABLE
RB Dameon Pierce: OUT
WR Tank Dell: OUT
S Jimmie Ward: OUT

Pederson updates Jaguars’ injuries vs. Bills; Engram, Savage

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson shared a handful of injury updates Tuesday following Jacksonville’s 47-10 loss at Buffalo in Week 3, for four players who went down against the Bills and two who missed the game after getting hurt earlier in the season.

Linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (foot), right tackle Anton Harrison (knee), rookie cornerback Jarrian Jones (shoulder) and wide receiver Gabe Davis (shoulder) each left the Monday Night Football at different times.

Pederson suggested Oluokun’s situation is more serious than the others but that each player would be evaluated on a day-to-day or week-to-week basis.

“Jarrian is kind of as tolerated with his shoulder. Everything medically this morning, his check-up and things were good. It’s just going to be as tolerated with him,” Pederson explained. “Anton, again it’s his knee, same one he injured the week before. He’s just going to be day-to-day this week, so we’ve got to be careful with him and make sure he’s feeling good going into Sunday.

“Gabe, you know, his shoulder at the end, it’s just something that he’s, again, day-to-day but should be fine, you know, for the game. And then Foye, it’s his foot. His is probably more week-to-week right now, and you know, there is a chance that he misses this football game.”

Oluokun leads the Jaguars with 22 tackles through three games, including one sack and three tackles for loss, He has also defended two passes.

Harrison, Jacksonville’s first-round NFL draft pick last year, missed one play against Cleveland in Week 2 due to his hurt knee. He took the field for 47 of the Jaguars’ 71 offensive snaps against the Bills in Week 3.

Jones, who has filled in for injured safety/nickel cornerback Darnell Savage Jr. over the last two weeks, has tallied six tackles to begin his debut NFL campaign. He hurt his shoulder while tackling Buffalo running back James Cook on Jacksonville’s first defensive series of the game.

Davis experienced a shoulder injury in the matchup’s final minutes after catching two passes for 18 yards.

Pederson shared that Savage (quadriceps) should return to action in Week 4 against Houston after being sidelined against Cleveland and Buffalo. After signing a three-year, $21.8 million free-agent contract with Jacksonville in March, Savage tallied two pass breakups in his Jaguars debut versus Miami.

Pederson did not express as much confidence in tight end Evan Engram’s availability, however, after he, like Savage missed Weeks 2-3. Engram caught one pass for four yards in Week 1.

“It’ll be close, it’ll be close. But again, a short week. I don’t want to risk anything with Evan. We’ll see. We’ll see tomorrow where he’s at and go from there,” said Pederson. “But we should have Savage back this week, which will be good.”

Key matchups for Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cleveland Browns

Coming off a tough loss in South Florida, the Jacksonville Jaguars are set for their home opener against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday as both teams look to avoid an 0-2 start.

This week Jacksonville looks to be more consistent with its offensive production while Cleveland is again forced to deal with quarterback Deshaun Watson and his off-field issues as the Browns await the return of all-world running back Nick Chubb.

Week 2 will give both teams a better picture of what and who they are moving forward into the 2024 campaign. The Jaguars hope for better execution in their offensive approach following their blown lead to the Miami Dolphins.

With that in mind, Jaguars Wire is here to identify some key matchups for Jacksonville’s Week 2 matchup with Cleveland. Here are three matchups the Jaguars must win to avoid a winless start to the season.

Cleveland QB Deshaun Watson vs. Jacksonville’s defense

One of the key takeaways from this past Sunday was the Jaguars’ admirable defensive performance against the explosive Dolphins offense. They mostly limited significant explosive plays and generated four-man pressures through their front four.

Browns head coach and play-caller Kevin Stefanski is known for his offensive creativity and has put Watson in positions to succeed. But since returning from suspension nearly two seasons ago, the former Clemson standout has yet to return to his pre-2021 form.

Watson’s performance against the Dallas Cowboys offered a clear sign of his current abilities.

According to Next Gen Stats, Watson was pressured on 44.6% of dropbacks, finishing 5-of-17 for 22 yards against pressure while being sacked six times. His 23.2 percent dropback success rate was the lowest in a game in the Next Gen Stats era.

Watson has declined, and the Jaguars have the defense to force him off his spot and into bad decisions. Plus, Jacksonville has the athletic defenders necessary to stick with Watson in quarterback contain.

If defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen’s unit can generate pressures and rattle Watson early, it should be a good day for Jacksonville.

Jacksonville’s offensive line vs. Cleveland’s defensive line

The trenches will be a key matchup in this game but none more crucial than the Jaguars offensive line against the Browns stellar pass rush, led by All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett.

Jacksonville’s front five did a decent job of protecting franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence against the Dolphins, allowing a pressure rate of 32%, ranking No. 14 in the NFL in Week 1.

However, Cleveland defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is arguably the best in the game at his position and finds ways of consistently getting to the QB. Against the Cowboys, most of the Browns’ pressures came from a defensive front featuring three defensive ends and one defensive tackle.

Having an extra edge rusher lined up at the three-technique could prove disadvantageous for Jacksonville’s guards due to the speed and quickness of Cleveland’s rushers. Schwartz will likely deploy this fairly often in passing situations.

The biggest concern will be if the Jaguars can limit Garrett, arguably the best pass rusher in the world. This offensive line will also have to account for defensive tackles Dalvin Tomlinson and Shelby Harris, and defensive ends Za’Darius Smith and Alex Wright.

Jacksonville seems up for the challenge considering its Week 1 performance. Right guard Brandon Scherff must have a better game after an up-and-down showing in Miami. However, left guard Ezra Cleveland and center Mitch Morse held their own against the Dolphins and can build upon their performances this week.

Tackles Cam Robinson and Anton Harrison will have a lot on their plate Sunday, but another solid day from these five linemen could signal success for the Jaguars in Week 2.

Jacksonville’s skill players vs. Cleveland’s back-seven

Once again, the Jaguars’ group of offensive skill players will face another tough secondary only this time on their home turf.

The Browns have a defensive unit that allowed a negative .20 expected points added (EPA) per play allowed. Their back seven is led by star linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and three-time Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward with more quality defenders roaming the second and third level.

For most teams, including Jacksonville, facing Cleveland’s back seven is a tall task. Nevertheless, the Jaguars have last week’s first-half performance to go off of when it comes to taking on other stout back seven defenders.

Rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. must be a focal point Sunday. The offense was humming when he was being targeted and he adds a level of explosiveness and playmaking ability this unit has not had in quite some time. His zero targets in the second half were inexcusable.

This weekend could be a good time for the Jaguars to deploy Evan Engram into the passing game in his new versatile role as the F-move tight end and fullback. He could be the X-factor against a tough Browns secondary.

Finding explosive plays and getting the ball to the team’s best playmakers will be another crucial aspect in their pursuit of a home-opener victory.

Three key matchups for Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Miami Dolphins

The Jacksonville Jaguars kick off their regular season with a road trip to South Florida to take on the Miami Dolphins in a significant early-season game on Sunday.

Both teams enter the 2024 campaign with eyes toward the postseason. Jacksonville is looking to return to the playoffs after squandering a healthy record late in the season while Miami is eyeing a third consecutive trip.

Week 1 does not always offer a clear snapshot of a team’s strengths and weaknesses. However, it will allow the Jaguars to assess theirs against an opponent some consider possible Super Bowl contenders.

Identifying the key battles this weekend is important. With that in mind, here are three matchups the Jaguars must win to pull off a victory in Miami Gardens.

Jacksonville’s defense vs. Miami’s offense

These two units are the strengths of their respective teams and should provide an enticing head-to-head matchup.

The Dolphins have one of the most explosive offenses in the league due to the brilliance of head coach and offensive play-caller Mike McDaniels. He takes after his former coach in San Francisco, Kyle Shanahan, with exotic formations, route concepts, shifts and motions that generate chaos and confusion with opposing defenses.

One thing that should comfort Jaguars fans is that Jacksonville has a defense that is more than capable of slowing down the speedy talents of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

Defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen is one of the few in his position that gets his players to elevate their play while remaining disciplined, as seen in the tremendous growth of Atlanta’s defense under his leadership last year.

While the Jaguars have some depth questions at cornerback, Nielsen has a defensive line capable of generating pressure off four-man rushes alone.

No matter how it’s put, Miami’s offense remains a tough one to tame. The biggest question around this unit is whether it can become more physical up front despite losing guard Robert Hunt in free agency offseason.

Bringing a physical element versus the run and remaining even-keeled against a terrific wide receiver duo will be a significant key in Jacksonville’s hopes of winning this game.

Protecting Trevor Lawrence from the Dolphins’ pass rush

When a team has a franchise quarterback as Jacksonville and Miami do, protecting its star is of utmost importance. Having a capable offensive line is a necessary step in that direction.

The Jaguars’ offensive line looks to be a much more steady group after last season’s debacle. The team signed former Buffalo center Mitch Morse in the offseason, shoring up the middle of their line and giving Trevor Lawrence an added layer of protection.

This offensive line will take on a group that lost two key defensive linemen this offseason, Christian Wilkins and Andrew Van Ginkel. It’s unclear if star pass rusher Jaelan Phillips will be playing at full speed coming off a torn Achilles last season.

Yet, Miami’s defensive front and pass rush still feature a fair amount of talent for Jacksonville to contend with.

The Dolphins will likely deploy first-round selection Chop Robinson in sub-packages as a third-down pass rusher, using his speed and explosiveness to get by the likes of tackles Cam Robinson and Anton Harrison.

Defensive tackle Zach Sieler, meanwhile, could prove to be a handful for guards Ezra Cleveland and Brandon Scherff.

If the Jaguars can limit the Dolphins’ pressures while adding some creativity to their offensive scheme, their chances of victory will increase.

Trevor Lawrence vs. Tua Tagovailoa

While it’s impossible for quarterbacks to have a legitimate one-on-one matchup, the dual between these two signal callers will be quite intriguing for fans of both teams and those of the wider NFL.

Lawrence and Tagovailoa were on the receiving end of historic contract extensions this offseason, with the former receiving a five-year, $275 million extension and the latter four years, $212.4 million.

Now, the two quarterbacks will go toe-to-toe to showcase why they deserved their top-dollar contracts.

The biggest question with Lawrence entering the season is if he can remain consistent and play to the level that got Jacksonville off to an 8-3 start in 2023.

The former No. 1 overall selection is looking to prove he is still one of the better signal-callers in the game. The former Clemson standout had issues last season with protecting the ball and some have questioned whether he still be an elite quarterback in the NFL.

This will be a good first test for Lawrence against a defense coached by new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. There’s no question he’s a better talent than Tagovailoa, but both have their own approaches to how they play.

Tagovailoa understands how to operate the offense he plays while being a high-level processor to distribute the ball to his playmakers. Lawrence has the same capability but with a gunslinger mentality, inviting risks. Who makes the biggest throw in the biggest moment will be key on Sunday.

The Dolphins will likely be another strong defensive unit that will likely give any quarterback fits, especially with safety Jevon Holland and, if he is available, cornerback Jalen Ramsey in the secondary.

A win and a strong outing by Lawrence & Co. at Hard Rock Stadium will give Jacksonville a bolt of confidence heading into their home opener against the Cleveland Browns.

Danny Stutsman featured on CBS Sports top 50 NFL draft big board

Oklahoma will need to take another step forward on defense in 2024.

The 2024 college football season is right around the corner, but some are already looking ahead to next April. That’s when the 2025 NFL Draft will be held, and if you follow football, you know that some analysts cover the draft year-round.

CBS Sports analyst Ryan Wilson released his annual preseason Top 50 Draft Board on Monday, identifying the best pro prospects in college football before the season gets rolling. He has one OU player inside of his top 32.

Oklahoma Sooners linebacker [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] cracks the first round at No. 28 overall on Wilson’s list. He’s the third-ranked linebacker behind LSU‘s Harold Perkins and Clemson‘s Barrett Carter.

Stutsman’s much anticipated senior season comes after he led the Sooners with 104 tackles in 2023, including 16 for a loss. He had three sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery last year, as well as his pick-six against Tulsa. He also had three pass breakups in coverage.

He only played in a little over eleven games last season and the Sooners were 10-1 in games he started and finished, only losing against Arizona in the Alamo Bowl. His injury early in the the Kansas loss led to him being held out the next week, a loss against Oklahoma State. Those were the only two games OU failed to win during the regular season, and both came right down to the wire.

Stutsman’s presence in the middle of Oklahoma’s defense is huge for head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and new defensive coordinator/linebackers coach [autotag]Zac Alley[/autotag]. He’s become the heart and soul of the unit and gives OU a chance to make another leap on the defensive side of the ball in 2024.

Heading into the [autotag]SEC[/autotag], the Sooners will need to start putting even more players into the NFL, especially on the defensive side of the ball if they want to keep up in recruiting and the portal. Though the Sooners have produced seven first round picks in the last decade, six of them have come on the offensive side of the ball. Two have come in the last two years, both on the offensive line ([autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag] in 2023 and [autotag]Tyler Guyton[/autotag] in 2024).

[autotag]Kenneth Murray[/autotag] is the only first-rounder on defense in that time period, all the way back in 2020. The early days of the [autotag]Bob Stoops[/autotag] era, when Venables was the co-defensive coordinator, produced first-rounders on defense on a number of occasions.

Stutsman is trying to be the first to restart that trend, and with another good season this year could find himself selected in the first 32 picks when April rolls around.

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