Tag: Devin Lloyd

5 Jaguars who exceeded expectations in the first half of 2023

Which Jaguars player has been a pleasant surprise to you so far this year?

After a slow 1-2 start, the Jacksonville Jaguars have developed into the team NFL fans were expecting. The Jaguars have won their last five games and are sitting at 6-2 coming off their bye week.

Now, Jacksonville looks like an AFC contender with loads of talent that’s living up the billing. The offense was expected to carry Jacksonville to success after wide receiver Calvin Ridley’s arrival and anticipated development from quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

However, it’s the defense that has really stepped up in the Jaguars’ biggest moments. While the team hasn’t looked quite like the team everyone expected, a handful of players have elevated their play, making Jacksonville a true threat.

Here are the Jaguars’ five biggest overachievers through the first eight weeks of 2023:

5 Jaguars players to watch vs. the Saints in Week 7

Here are five Jaguars players to watch as they take on the Saints on Thursday:

The Jacksonville Jaguars are riding a win streak, but the same can’t be said about their Week 7 opponent.

Jacksonville has won three straight, but the New Orleans Saints have lost three of their last four games. The Saints have a handful of impactful players, but the Jaguars roster seems to have more talent, and they’ve hit a groove.

Jacksonville’s players are stepping it up and the team has seen vast improvements during a three-game win streak against the Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, and Indianapolis Colts.

Here are five Jaguars players to watch in their Week 7 game against the Saints:

Studs and duds in the Jaguars’ 37-20 win vs. Colts

The positives way out-weighed the negatives for the Jaguars in a 17-point victory Sunday.

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ 37-20 win against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6 had a few speed bumps, but was never really in doubt.

After a three-play span in the second quarter flipped a three-point deficit into a double-digit lead for the Jaguars, the Colts were never again within 11 points.

Indianapolis scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter thanks to some deep passing, and the Jaguars offense had some late miscues that made things dicier than it needed to be late. A knee injury for Trevor Lawrence in the final minutes left a sour taste too, even if it doesn’t appear serious.

Still, the positives out-weighed the negatives for Jacksonville in a one-sided drubbing of a divisional opponent. So the studs way out-number the duds in this week’s edition:

Colts vs. Jaguars inactives: Devin Lloyd, Dawuane Smoot active Week 6

The Jaguars’ defense is officially getting a couple of players back on Sunday.

The Jacksonville Jaguars defense will officially have inside linebacker Devin Lloyd and outside linebacker Dawuane Smoot back in the lineup Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.

With kickoff 90 minutes away, the Jaguars released their list of inactives for Week 6 and it didn’t have any surprises. Wide receiver Zay Jones and offensive lineman Walker Little were already ruled out by the team due to knee injuries suffered last week against the Buffalo Bills.

Fifth-round rookie Yasir Abdullah played in the first five games of the season, but is a healthy scratch for the first time with the return of Smoot. Lloyd is expected to play with a cast over his thumb after undergoing surgery.

The Colts’ most notable inactive is right tackle Braden Smith, who was ruled out by the team Friday.

Jacksonville and Indianapolis previously met in Week 1 when the Jaguars traveled to Lucas Oil Stadium and earned a 31-21 win.

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2 questionable, 5 ruled out in Colts vs. Jaguars

These are players with injury designations in Week 6.

The Indianapolis Colts (3-2) and Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2) released their final injury reports included with designations Friday ahead of the Week 6 matchup at TIAA Bank Field.

On the final injury report, the Colts ruled out one player while listing two others as questionable for the divisional game. The Jaguars, meanwhile, ruled out four players and listed one as questionable heading into the weekend.

Here’s a look at the players with injury designations ahead of the Week 6 matchup:

Jaguars rule out 4 players, Colts to sit 1 in Week 6 matchup

The Jaguars ruled out four players and listed linebacker Devin Lloyd as questionable for a Week 6 game against the Colts.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will be without wide receiver Zay Jones, offensive lineman Walker Little, cornerback Christian Braswell, and defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton when they play the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6, the team announced Friday.

Questionable for the matchup is linebacker Devin Lloyd, who missed the last two weeks due to a thumb injury that required surgery.

None are surprises and Lloyd appears in line to return to the lineup, although he’ll be wearing a cast over his injured right hand.

“It doesn’t change anything, but from a grip standpoint, he just can’t bend that thumb because it’s immobilized basically,” Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said of Lloyd’s cast Friday. “He has the ability to use his four fingers, but he says he feels fine. He feels comfortable using it the more time he’s out there, just catching a football is probably not the most ideal with a cast on your wrist.”

A notable absence on the injury report is Dawuane Smoot, who is set to play in his first game since an Achilles injury ended his 2022 season.

For the Colts, the offensive line will be the question mark with right tackle Braden Smith out due to various injuries.

Indianapolis will likely start rookie Blake Freehand at right tackle in Smith’s place after he started at left tackle in the last two weeks. The Colts also had an ankle/foot problem pop up for Ryan Kelly that kept him out of practice Friday and has the center listed as questionable.

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Jaguars LB Devin Lloyd ready to play with a cast: ‘It feels fine’

Devin Lloyd isn’t worried about the cast on his right thumb. “I’ve still got my four fingers,” says the Jaguars linebacker.

When the Jacksonville Jaguars hit the practice fields at Miller Electric Center on Wednesday, linebacker Devin Lloyd was back with his teammates for the first time in more than two weeks.

Lloyd, 25, didn’t make the trip to London after undergoing surgery to repair a thumb injury suffered in Week 3. Now the second-year linebacker is hoping to get back in the lineup as soon as possible, regardless if that means playing with a cast on his right hand.

“Whoever made it, I forget the name, they did a really good job,” Lloyd said of the cast he was wearing at practice. “It’s comfortable, I’ve got a lot of motion, it feels fine. … It’s football at the end of the day. I’ve still got my four fingers, so it’s football.”

Lloyd’s second season in the NFL was off to a strong, albeit quiet start before the injury. The 2022 first-round pick had 19 tackles, one fumble recovery, and three pass deflections through the first three weeks.

While his 58.7 grade from Pro Football Focus doesn’t jump off the page, it’s significantly higher than the 35.2 grade his replacement, Chad Muma, has through the first five weeks.

Still, the Jaguars won back-to-back games during the London trip to get their season back on track. And while his team was getting its mojo back in England, Lloyd was doing everything he could to get back on the field sooner rather than later.

“Just rehabbing,” Lloyd said. “It’s kind of tough because I was limited in what I could do. So just rehab, get some motion, get the swelling down. Just basically do stuff to accelerate the healing process. But there’s only so much you can do too.

“I watched a lot of football. Sometimes you get back and watch the team, watch teams around the league, and just be ready mentally.”

Lloyd was listed by the Jaguars as a limited participant in practice Wednesday.

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Devin Lloyd limited, Dawuane Smoot full practice participant Wednesday

Jaguars linebackers Devin Lloyd and Dawuane Smoot are making progress toward a return to the lineup.

The Jacksonville Jaguars were unsurprisingly without wide receiver Zay Jones and offensive lineman Walker Little when they hit the practice field Wednesday ahead of a Week 6 game against the Indianapolis Colts. But the team saw encouraging progress from a couple defensive players.

Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd was back on the field Wednesday, two weeks after undergoing surgery on his thumb. The team also listed outside linebacker Dawuane Smoot as a full participant, providing more optimism that he’ll be available Sunday to make his 2023 debut.

Smoot isn’t officially on the active roster yet after beginning the season on the PUP list. Last week, the Jaguars opened his 21-day window to return, meaning the team can activate him any time before Oct. 25.

Five players were listed on the Colts’ injury report Wednesday, although three were full participants. Only tight end Mo Allie-Cox and offensive tackle Braden Smith were missing from practice.

Not listed on the Colts’ report is quarterback Anthony Richardson, who was officially placed on the team’s injured reserve Wednesday. Other Indianapolis players on the IR include cornerback Dallis Flowers and tight end Jelani Woods.

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Doug Pederson complimentary of Chad Muma after up-and-down first start

Doug Pederson said Chad Muma played well in his first start this season, but has room to improve.

Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Chad Muma made his first start of the 2023 season Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.

Muma’s performance didn’t translate to a high grade from Pro Football Focus, but his stats showed an ability to make plays.

He earned a 38.1 overall grade, including a 28.9 run defense grade and a 38.5 tackling grade. However, he notched seven total tackles, two hurries and two timely pass deflections.

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson was complimentary of Muma after his first start of the season.

“He did a nice job out there, obviously involved in special teams,” Pederson said. “Made a couple of plays and he’s a very instinctive player.”

Pederson thought Muma looked improved from last season. In 2022, Muma started two games, totaling 20 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

“Things that we saw during training camp that showed improvement from a year ago, it was really good to see him out there,” Pederson said.

While Pederson thought Muma played well, he anticipates improvements going forward. Muma is currently filling in for the injured Devin Lloyd, who didn’t make the trip and will be out for the Jaguars second game in London against the Buffalo Bills.

“He played well and it’s something that when he watches the film tomorrow, he can make those corrections and be better this week.”

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Jamal Agnew inactive for Jaguars, Cordarrelle Patterson active

With Jamal Agnew ruled out, sixth-round rookie Parker Washington is set to make his NFL debut.

Wide receiver and return specialist Jamal Agnew is inactive Sunday with a quad injury, the Jacksonville Jaguars announced Sunday. Making his NFL debut and presumably taking over kick and punt return duties will be sixth-round rookie Parker Washington.

On Friday, the Jaguars ruled out three players — Zay Jones, Devin Lloyd, and Antonio Johnson — and listed Agnew as questionable. The fifth inactive player for Jacksonville is rookie wide receiver Elijah Cooks, who has now been a healthy scratch in each of the first four weeks.

For the Atlanta Falcons, the most notable news from the list of inactives is a player who wasn’t listed: Cordarrelle Patterson.

Patterson led Atlanta in touchdowns last season with eight (all rushing), but missed the first three games of 2023 with a thigh injury. The Falcons officially list the wide receiver/running back as a “Joker” in their offense.

Wide receiver Josh Ali is the only player for the Falcons who is missing the game Sunday due to an injury.

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