Tag: Brian Thomas Jr.

Key Matchups: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Detroit Lions

Key Matchups: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Detroit Lions

The Jacksonville Jaguars hope to pull off a significant upset as they travel north to take on the Detroit Lions in a matchup with plenty of disadvantages.

Jacksonville enters Week 11 with the projected No. 1 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, according to Tankathon. The Jaguars are 2-8 and coming off a defensive slugfest of a loss against Minnesota without franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who is out again this week with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder.

Head coach Doug Pederson will not have a ton of edges against the Lions. Jaguars Wire looks at a few key matchups that will be critical against the Lions on Sunday afternoon.

Jacksonville WR Brian Thomas Jr. vs. Detroit’s secondary

This is a big moment for the rookie receiver. Brian Thomas Jr. has been one of the better wide receivers in the league this year, an impressive feat for a rookie. Now demanding double-coverage, per Pederson, Thomas will face an uber-talented Lions secondary that will likely continue that trend this weekend.

Thomas’ strength is his vertical game but he is much more than that as a receiver. He has developed into an all-around playmaker who threatens all three levels of the field with his speed, agility, fluidity and route running.

The challenge in Detroit will be taking on cornerbacks Carlton Davis III and Terrion Arnold and safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch.

There is an argument that Branch has had a defensive player-of-the-year-worthy season. And while Detroit’s defense has allowed the fifth-most passing yards per game (244.2) in the NFL this season, it also gives up the third-fewest passing touchdowns per game (0.8).

If Pederson and offensive coordinator Press Taylor manufacture touches for Thomas, the Jaguars could find themselves in scoring positions more often. Thomas is bound for his true workhorse game and this week could be the one.

Jacksonville DE Josh Hines-Allen vs. Detroit OT Taylor Decker

Despite last week’s loss to Minnesota loss, Jacksonville edge rusher Josh Hines-Allen got the better of former teammate Cam Robinson, tallying eight pressures and forcing quarterback Sam Darnold into some rough decisions with the football.

According to Next Gen Stats, Hines-Allen leads the Jaguars in pressures and will line up opposite Lions left tackle Taylor Decker, whose pressure rate ranks in the bottom ten among players at his position at 10.6%.

This is one of the few Achilles heels on Detroit’s offense and there aren’t many of them. Decker is an overall sound tackle but arguably the weak link on the best offensive line in the NFL.

Hines-Allen has been a handful this season and has been continuously worthy of the contract extension that secured him as a true franchise cornerstone on a lowly team. A big day from the former Kentucky standout could keep this game a competitive one through all four quarters.

Jacksonville’s coaching vs. Detroit’s coaching

If you have watched any football between these two teams, it is clear there is a sizeable advantage. If not, this game features a Lions coaching staff that has one of the best offensive minds in the NFL in Ben Johnson, and a defensive coordinator who has his defense playing competitive football in Aaron Glenn.

Not to mention, Detroit is led by Dan Campbell, one of the most respected head coaches in football. It would be fair to expect him to get the most out of his players.

The Jaguars have been under a microscope for most of the season. After entering the season with playoff expectations, those expectations aren’t likely to be met unless they pull off a miraculous run in the final seven games.

If Pederson and the rest of his staff want to tone down the noise about their futures in Jacksonville, they must coach the best games of the season or at any point of their Jaguars tenure.

Last week, there were glimpses of the Jaguars generating more pressure with more blitzes. Defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen must coach a perfect game in this instance and find a way to force Lions quarterback Jared Goff into bad decisions for the second straight week.

Offensively, as stated in the aforementioned key matchup, having the game plan around getting the ball to Thomas is critical. Travis Etienne Jr.’s return to health helps with the loss of Tank Bigsby. Leaning on Thomas and Etienne will ease the pressure on backup quarterback Mac Jones.

It may seem like a tall task against one of the best coaching staffs in the league headed by Campbell, but the Jaguars have pulled off miracles under Pederson before. They could do it again in Detroit.

Pederson: Defenses are double-covering Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr.

Pederson: Defenses are double-covering Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr.

It has been a quiet couple of weeks for sensational Jaguars rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.

After averaging roughly four receptions for 72 yards over six targets per game in the first eight weeks of his debut NFL campaign, a stretch in which he scored five touchdowns, Thomas has been limited to seven targets, four catches, 34 yards and zero scores in Jacksonville’s last two games.

Granted, Thomas has played through a chest injury that he suffered in the last game he scored a touchdown, against the Green Bay Packers in Week 8.

However, Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson has dismissed the notion that Thomas’ production is being limited by his injury.

Instead, Pederson has pointed toward the coverage Thomas has faced in the Jaguars’ recent matchups, largely Cover 3 Cloud in Week 9 against Philadelphia and a mix of traditional Cover 2 and Cover 3 Cloud versus Minnesota in Week 10.

Accordingly, Thomas often had two defenders dedicated to keeping him in check during these games.

“If you specifically watch the football game and not follow the ball, you will see what Philly did in kind of normal down situations. Some on third down as they had a corner and a safety. So, they basically doubled [Thomas],” Pederson explained on Nov. 4, noting the Eagles had not previously presented the coverage much throughout the season.

“It’s hard to throw the ball over there to a guy that’s doubled. So, you have to go other places with the ball. So that was part of their game plan.”

To pair, Pederson acknowledged that the Vikings’ impactful pass rush limited Thomas’ opportunities further in Week 10. Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones took three sacks and was pressured 10 times over 27 dropbacks on Sunday.

With Jaguars starting slot receiver Christian Kirk’s Week 8, season-ending shoulder injury in mind, perhaps opposing defenses are dedicating more resources to slowing Thomas down.

But Pederson believes the coverage attention Thomas has warranted can be navigated, by the coaching staff moving him around the offensive formation pre-snap and Thomas recognizing potential double-teams.

“I think you can put him in stacks, bunches. You can move him around the formation a little bit, do some things that way,” Pederson said Wednesday.

“The only downside to it is the offense has to be stationary at the snap so the defense can still move and get lined up as well. So do the best we can to move him around the formation, and then on Brian to obviously know that he’s going to be doubled at times. He’s just going to have to work to get himself free.”

Thomas’ next test will come against Detroit’s secondary on Sunday. The Lions have allowed 244.2 passing yards per game this season, the fifth-most in the NFL.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Minnesota Vikings: Key matchups

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Minnesota Vikings: Key matchups

The Jacksonville Jaguars enter Week 10 coming off another tough loss on the road to the Philadelphia Eagles and will look to pull off an upset home victory against the 6-2 Minnesota Vikings.

Like last week, the Jaguars will be without some key players, including franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who has been nursing a left shoulder injury this week. Losing Lawrence will be a hard blow for a team that has been relatively competitive largely because of his play in recent weeks. 

However, there is a path to success that Jacksonville can follow. The Vikings do not have many weaknesses, but there are some areas the Jaguars can take advantage of to pave the road to an upset. 

Jaguars Wire breaks down the key matchups that could be vital in ensuring win No. 3 for the Jaguars against the Vikings. 

Jacksonville’s run game vs. Minnesota’s run defense

The Vikings own the NFL’s No. 2 rushing defense this season in yards allowed and have allowed the fewest rushing expected points added (EPA) this season. The Jaguars have found success on the ground this season and with Lawrence out, they will have to lean on their new star tailback Tank Bigsby.

A productive day from Bigbsy might be Jacksonville’s biggest key to victory this weekend. He is a tough runner to bring down, forcing a missed tackle on nearly 38 percent of his rushes, according to Next Gen Stats.

That’s good enough for the third-highest rate in football. Minnesota has struggled to tackle in space this season at the fifth-highest rate.

Bigsby has the skill set to handle a hefty workload on a moment’s notice. His downhill rushing ability and shiftiness in space make him a handful to bring down.

To add pressure for Minnesota, Bigsby can be a home run-hitting running back with his second-level explosiveness and quickness in the open field. It won’t be an easy go-around but this is strength vs. strength in this weekend’s matchup.

Jacksonville DE Josh Hines-Allen vs. Minnesota LT Cam Robinson

This matchup could be personal for both players. It was only a few weeks ago that Robinson was manning Lawrence’s blindside.

But after Vikings star left tackle Christian Darrisaw went down with a season-ending injury, they acquired Robinson and a conditional 2026 seventh-round draft choice in exchange for a conditional 2026 fifth-round pick.

The former Jaguar had an up-and-down career in North Florida. Robinson was playing steady football in pass protection with just a 7.1 percent pressure rate before he was traded. But he struggled against Indianapolis in his Vikings debut and is now tasked with slowing down Josh Hines-Allen for the first time as an opponent. 

Jacksonville’s cornerstone pass rusher is tied with teammate Travon Walker for the most pressures on the team with 34. He’s as good as they come coming off the edge and is likely to spend most of his snaps lining up at right defensive end for his one-on-one matchup with Robinson.

Hines-Allen versus Robinson in the trenches is a key individual matchup that fans should have a keen eye on, one that could be a deciding factor in this weekend’s game.

Jacksonville QB Mac Jones vs. Minnesota pass defense

Losing a talent like Lawrence for just one or any number of games is a blow for the Jaguars. He’s the franchise quarterback and has played sound football for most of the season.  

But now, it’s time for former Pro Bowler and once-surmised New England franchise signal-caller Mac Jones to make his starting debut with his hometown team.

Jones never proved to be the prolific quarterback from the incredible 2020 Alabama national championship roster in the NFL. More of a game-manager, a heavy dose of the run game and play-action should allow Jones to be fairly smooth sailing if things go according to plan.

However, the Jaguars might miss the vertical element that has been a staple of their offense with Jones under-center this weekend. 

Jones will face a defense that is second in the NFL in blitz rate and has used split-safety coverage the most of any team this season. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores has them playing some sound football and will pose a challenge for Jones this weekend. 

Yet, there is a path where Jones performs well enough to put Jacksonville in a spot to pull off the upset. If he protects the ball and finds answers against pressure while giving receivers like Brian Thomas Jr. and Parker Washington chances for run-after-catch plays, the Jaguars will be one step closer to victory.

Report: Injured Jaguars starting WRs expected to play vs. Vikings

Report: Injured Jaguars starting WRs expected to play vs. Vikings

Jaguars injured starting wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis are expected to play Sunday when Jacksonville hosts the Minnesota Vikings, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported late Saturday night.

Jacksonville listed Thomas (chest) and Davis (shoulder) as questionable to play in Week 10 on the club’s Friday injury report.

Both players experienced their injuries against the Green Bay Packers in Week 8, although Davis had hurt the same shoulder earlier in the season, per Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson.

Thomas managed to play hurt against the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday in Week 9; Davis did not.

Thomas, Jacksonville’s No. 23 overall pick in the first round of April’s NFL draft, has caught 35 passes for 595 yards and five touchdowns during his explosive rookie campaign, the latter two stats ranking among the top 10 in the NFL this year.

Davis, who signed a three-year, $39 million free-agent contract with Jacksonville in March, has logged 18 receptions for 217 yards and two touchdowns this season.

Thomas and Davis’ availability is welcome news to the Jaguars as they will reportedly be without starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) against the Vikings on Sunday.

Mac Jones will make his first start since being traded to Jacksonville from New England in Lawrence’s place.

Jaguars vs. Eagles: Inactive lists

Jaguars vs. Eagles: Inactive lists

Jacksonville and Philadelphia each made a pair of starters, one on offense and the other on defense, inactive for the Jaguars and Eagles’ Week 9 matchup on Sunday.

Not included on Jacksonville’s inactive list were running backs Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and right guard Brandon Scherff. Each player entered the weekend questionable but has been cleared to play against Philadelphia.

Find Jacksonville and Philadelphia’s inactive lists below.

Jaguars inactives

  • WR Gabe Davis
  • OL Ezra Cleveland
  • OL Javon Foster
  • DT Maason Smith
  • DT Esezi Otomewo

Analysis: The Jaguars officially ruled starting wide receiver Gabe Davis (shoulder) out against the Eagles by making him inactive Sunday. He entered the matchup questionable.

Starting left guard Ezra Cleveland (knee) and rookie defensive tackle Maason Smith (ankle) were ruled out Friday. Rookie offensive lineman Javon Foster and defensive tackle Esezi Otomewo are healthy scratches.

Eagles inactives

  • QB Tanner McKee
  • TE Dallas Goedert
  • OL Darian Kinnard
  • OL Trevor Keegan
  • CB Darius Slay
  • S Tristin McCollum

Analysis: The Eagles previously ruled starters, tight end Dallas Goedert and cornerback Darius Slay, out of Week 9 on Friday. Philadelphia’s inactive list otherwise consists of healthy scratches.

Report: Trio of Jaguars offensive weapons ‘likely’ to play vs. Eagles

Report: Trio of Jaguars offensive weapons ‘likely’ to play vs. Eagles

Barring any setbacks, the Jaguars expect to have running backs Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) and Tank Bigsby (ankle) and wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (chest) available for Jacksonville’s Week 9 matchup against the Eagles in Philadelphia, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Rapoport called each player ‘likely’ to play Sunday, and added that wide receiver Gabe Davis (shoulder) “appears to be more of a long-shot.”

Bigsby, Thomas and Davis each suffered injuries in Jacksonville’s 30-27 loss to the Green Bay Packers at home last week, while Etienne missed Weeks 7-8 after hurting his hamstring in Week 6 against the Chicago Bears.

Bigsby leads the Jaguars with 493 yards and four touchdowns rushing over 85 attempts this season, with Etienne having compiled 230 yards and two touchdowns over 56 carries.

Thomas, the Jaguars’ first-round rookie sensation, paces Jacksonville with 33 receptions for 573 yards and five touchdowns this year. Davis, who has battled shoulder and knee injuries throughout the campaign, has logged 18 catches for 217 yards and two touchdowns.

Jaguars injury updates: Will Tank Bigsby, and Travis Etienne Jr. play vs. Eagles in Week 9?

The Jacksonville Jaguars are expected to have Tank Bigsby, Travis Etienne Jr., and Gabe Davis available for the Week 9 game at the Eagles

The Jaguars (2-6) are in Philadelphia for another Doug Pederson homecoming, and they’ll have critical reinforcements available on offense for the matchup against the Eagles (5-2) on Sunday.

Jacksonville running backs Tank Bigsby (ankle) and Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) are both likely to play today, barring a setback, Ian Rapoport reports.

Rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (chest) will be a game-time decision, while veteran passes catcher Gabe Davis (shoulder) is more of a long shot.

The Jaguars lost to the Green Bay Packers, 30-27, at EverBank Stadium this past Sunday. Jacksonville sustained many injuries, including a season-ending collarbone injury to veteran wide receiver and leader Christian Kirk.

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Jaguars promote WRs from practice squad for Week 9

Jaguars promote WRs from practice squad for Week 9

With injuries mounting at the position entering their Week 9 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Jacksonville Jaguars promoted wide receivers Elijah Cooks and Austin Trammell from their practice squad to the active roster via standard elevation on Saturday.

Jacksonville will be without starting slot receiver Christian Kirk for the rest of the season after he broke his collarbone in Week 8.

To pair, fellow starting receivers, Brian Thomas Jr. (chest) and Gabe Davis (shoulder) enter Week 9 questionable, and backup receiver and return specialist Devin Duvernay is currently on the injured reserve.

Cooks joined the Jaguars as an undrafted free agent out of San Jose State in 2023 and secured a spot on the club’s 53-player roster to open the season. He made nine appearances as a rookie and caught three passes for 38 yards.

However, Cooks was relegated to Jacksonville’s practice squad this season. His elevation for Week 9 will mark his first game active with the Jaguars this year.

Tranmell joined the Jaguars this offseason after beginning his career with the Atlanta Falcons in 2021 and spending the last two seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. Like Cooks, he was moved to Jacksonville‘s practice squad in August.

Trammell has logged six receptions for 42 yards and averaged 16.8 yards per kickoff return and 7.3 yards per punt return over 24 career appearances.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Philadelphia Eagles: Key matchups

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Philadelphia Eagles: Key matchups

The Jacksonville Jaguars enter Week 9 coming off a rough loss to Green Bay at home and look to get back into the win column in a tough road matchup in Philadelphia.

However, the Jaguars may be without several key players at key positions this weekend. This could pose some issues for a team that is looking to secure their second win in three weeks. A win against the Eagles could boost a ton of confidence into a roster and coaching staff that needs it.

Philadelphia has seemed to right the ship after a rocky start to the season, having played some of its best football in all phases in recent weeks. Jacksonville looks to slow their momentum and steal the home field advantage in this weekend’s late Sunday afternoon bout.

Jaguars Wire takes a closer look at a couple of the key matchups against the Eagles that could be critical in securing win No. 3 for the Jaguars.

Jacksonville’s skill players vs. Philadelphia’s secondary

The Jaguars got beat up this past weekend against the Packers.

Standout slot receiver Christian Kirk went down with a broken collarbone and is out for the season. Rookie sensation Brian Thomas Jr. is said to be a game-time decision with a rib injury but head coach Doug Pederson suggested earlier this week it will likely come down to pain tolerance for team’s top playmaker. Receiver Gabe Davis is also nursing a shoulder injury.

This means second-year wideout Parker Washington, top tight end Evan Engram, Tim Jones, and a practice squad call-up could be the ones trotting out against a sound Eagles secondary.

Philadelphia is getting some quality play from some of their younger talents, including rookie defensive backs Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. While Darius Slay is out with a groin injury this week, the Eagles have capable depth in Kelee Ringo and Isaiah Rodgers.

Their safeties C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Reed Blankenship, and Sydney Brown make up the rest of a secondary that is built to take on the vertical stretching ability of the Jaguars offense.

The Eagles 57.1 passer rating against deep targets is the fifth-lowest in football, according to Next Gen Stats. This doesn’t bold well for Trevor Lawrence skill players, especially if Thomas can’t go this weekened.

Yet, should Thomas be healthy, it will be a significant boost for an offense that will need him to continue to be the top playmaker he has been this season. Look for the Eagles to play plenty of disguised coverages from a Cover 3 base alignment that will allow them to rotate to play more match and quarters coverage.

Jacksonville’s defense vs. Philadelphia’s offense

This is seemingly nightmare fuel for a Jaguars defense that is in the bottom-five in most statistical defenses.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts and running back Saquon Barkley have been terrors on the ground against opposing defenses. These two have allowed the Eagles to field the second-best rushing offense in the NFL behind the juggernaut Baltimore Ravens run game.

It doesn’t help that wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith have been outstanding this season in the passing game, posing more trouble for a lowly Jaguars secondary.

Jacksonville has struggled to penetrate the backfield consistently this season despite the talents of pass rushers Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker along with interior linemen DaVon Hamilton and Arik Armstead. Inconsistency has been a constant theme for defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen and his defense overall.

Putting it bluntly, this is not a well-coached defense and a man-heavy system that has put players on all three levels in a disadvantageous position. However, the key to finding some improvement is simple: an increase in zone coverage variations and blitzes.

Jacksonville has the lowest blitz-rate in the league and that must change if they want to give their secondary a chance to make plays on pressure-influenced passes. If this were to happen Sunday and the Jaguars force Hurts into bad decisions with the football, there is a path to a successful day against a strong Eagles offense.

Jaguars vs. Eagles: Final injury reports, game statuses

Jaguars vs. Eagles: Final injury reports, game statuses

Find Jacksonville and Philadelphia’s final injury reports and game statuses for Week 9 below.

Jaguars injury report

  • RB Keilan Robinson^ (toe) — full
  • CB Ronald Darby (hip) — full
  • RB Tank Bigsby (ankle) — limited
  • RB Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) — limited
  • WR Brian Thomas Jr. (chest) — limited
  • WR Gabe Davis (shoulder) — limited
  • OG Brandon Scherff (knee) — limited*
  • DT Maason Smith (ankle) — limited
  • S Andrew Wingard^ (knee) — limited
  • WR Christian Kirk (collarbone) — did not practice
  • OG Ezra Cleveland (ankle) — did not practice

Jaguars game statuses

  • RB Travis Etienne Jr.: QUESTIONABLE
  • RB Tank Bigsby: QUESTIONABLE
  • RB Keilan Robinson: QUESTIONABLE
  • WR Brian Thomas Jr.: QUESTIONABLE
  • WR Gabe Davis: QUESTIONABLE
  • OL Brandon Scherff: QUESTIONABLE
  • S Andrew Wingard: QUESTIONABLE
  • WR Christian Kirk: OUT
  • OL Ezra Cleveland: OUT
  • DT Maason Smith: OUT

Analysis: The Jaguars enter their Week 9 matchup with the Eagles bruised and battered.

Starters, wide receiver Christian Kirk and left guard Ezra Cleveland, and backup defensive tackle, rookie Maason Smith, were officially ruled out Friday, although Kirk was previously ruled out for the season with a broken collarbone by Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson on Monday.

Pederson called Jacksonville starting running back Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring), wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr. (chest) and Gabe Davis (shoulder), and right guard Brandon Scherff (knee) game-time decisions against Philadelphia on Friday.

Additionally, running back Keilan Robinson and safety Andrew Wingard, who are both designated to return from the injured reserve but have not yet been activated, enter the weekend questionable.

Eagles injury report

  • TE Albert Okwuegbunam (abdomen) — full
  • OT Mekhi Becton (concussion) — full
  • OG Landon Dickerson (knee) — full*
  • DT Jalen Carter (shoulder) — full
  • TE Dallas Goedert (hamstring) — did not practice
  • CB Darius Slay (groin) — did not practice

Eagles game statuses

  • TE Dallas Goedert: OUT
  • CB Darius Slay: OUT

Analysis: The Eagles will be without two starters on Sunday, tight end Dallas Goedert and cornerback. Neither player practiced during the week.

While they were full participants Friday, left guard Landon Dickerson and defensive tackle Jalen Carter did not practice Wednesday but saw their statuses upgrade throughout the week. Offensive tackle Mekhi Becton began the week limited in practice and ended as a full participant.