Doug Pederson – Page 7 – Syndication Server

Doug Pederson shares positive update on Jaguars TE Evan Engram

Evan Engram’s absence from the Jaguars offense is trending towards ceasing in London.

Sidelined by a hamstring injury since the hours before kickoff in Week 2, Engram returned to practice in a limited capacity with Jacksonville last week and appears poised to play against Chicago at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this Sunday, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson indicated Monday.

“I think he was really close last week,” Pederson said.

“He got himself back into practice a little bit. I would anticipate him doing more this week and seeing where he’s at at the end of the week, but I think the chances of him getting back in here this week are pretty good.”

Engram caught one pass for five yards against Miami in Week 1. Since signing with Jacksonville as a free agent in 2022, he has produced 188 receptions for 1,734 yards and eight touchdowns.

Second-year Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange has started in place of Engram since his injury occurred, catching 12 passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns in four games.

The Jaguars will spend Weeks 6-7 across the pond. After playing Chicago, they will host New England at Wembley Stadium in London on Oct. 20.

Everything Doug Pederson said after Jaguars’ first win of 2024 season

The Jaguars snapped their losing skid to begin the 2024 season with a 37-34 win at home over the Colts in Week 5, a victory that lifted “a weight off everybody’s shoulders” after the club began the campaign 0-4, Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson expressed after the game.

Find everything Pederson said in his post-game press conference following the win below.

On why the Jaguars’ offense executed at a high level:

DOUG PEDERSON: “It’s obviously things we work on during the week. To me, it’s not necessarily a surprise. I just think it’s a culmination of a lot of things. The way we work, the way we practice, the things we do during the week. It translated today. Proud of the guys for obviously the way we finished. Great team effort today.”

On if it’s hard to celebrate too much as a head coach given Jacksonville’s defensive issues late in the game:

DOUG PEDERSON: “Any win, any loss is hard to celebrate because you’re right back to work tomorrow, less than 24 hours. We’re going to enjoy this one. We’re going to look at the tape, make corrections, and move forward.”

On if running back Tank Bigsby will see increased carries over running back Travis Etienne Jr.:

DOUG PEDERSON: “No. Travis is our guy. Tank had a good game. That’s just the way games go. Happy for Tank. Great for the offensive line, obviously, in some of those situations there. Travis is our guy. Tank had a good game today, though.”

On what was different about quarterback Trevor Lawrence Sunday:

DOUG PEDERSON: “You know, Trevor’s the same guy every day. Honestly. I didn’t really see anything other than him working through some of the issues that we’ve had the first month of the season. And, listen, Trevor’s a professional, and he’s our guy, and we continue to help him and support him and do everything we can for him. I think he just has to understand that we’re going to do that, right? And as a quarterback, you just go out and do your job. And he did that today. He ran the offense, and he saw the field well. Gosh, there were some big throws in there. So, I think it was just a great effort by everybody. But to me, Trevor was the same guy he’s always been.”

On what prompted Pederson to challenge the spot in the first quarter:

DOUG PEDERSON: “No, it was clear that his knee was down prior to the line to gain.

On who observed that Colts running back Trey Sermon’s knee was down:

DOUG PEDERSON: “The guys upstairs were on top of that with the replays that we got, so it was pretty easy for me. It was a pretty easy challenge.”

On the performance of Jacksonville’s offensive line:

DOUG PEDERSON: “This is the second week in a row our O-line has played good as a unit. Listen, it’s been the same five guys now, right? So, when I say there’s continuity keeping those five together, there’s continuity, and they start learning to play together, and that’s what you’re seeing. I think these last couple of weeks, you’re seeing that. It was just a great game by those guys again today. They do have a good pass rush. I know they’re missing some guys. But still, even their second guys that come in can get after the pass. I thought our guys did a good job there, and in the run game as well. So, there’s consistency with playing together and working through your issues that helped us win this game today.”

On if Pederson feels there is a weight off Lawrence’s shoulders:

DOUG PEDERSON: “Well, I think there’s a weight off everybody’s shoulders. Right? Not just him. It’s a weight off of my shoulders too. Now you guys can get off my tail for at least a week. Listen, that’s what I told the guys, I mean, if they just continue to stick together and work hard and trust what we’re doing and trust each other. That’s what you’re seeing, right? Is it perfect? No. It’s never going to be perfect. But the other thing you have to realize too, we’ve had five games. Four of them have been one-score games, right? So that’s another thing we have to get used to. These games are going to come down to the last drive or two of a game. And that’s something, as a team, we’ve got to embrace, and we’ve got to learn to do. And today was a good step.”

On if wide receiver Christian Kirk or Etienne were dealing with injury:

DOUG PEDERSON: “Sometimes, it’s the [Colts Defensive Coordinator] Gus Bradley defense. Sometimes it’s going to happen that way. It’s where the ball goes sometimes. And I’ll tell you this, Christian made a heck of a play late in the game, and he made another one later in the game here in the fourth quarter that set up that game-winning kick. So, it’s just kind of the way the ebb and flow of a game goes. But as far as T.J. [Etienne], I’ve got to check with Ferg [Jaguars Vice President of Player Health and Performance Jeff Ferguson]. Nothing was said during the game. I know there was one time he got hit on the sideline. He had to come out a play or two, maybe to catch his wind. Other than that, I’ve got to find out.”

On how big of a step it was to see the Jaguars’ offense finish out the game:

DOUG PEDERSON: “It’s huge. It’s huge. It’s an opportunity to go win the game, and the sideline was into it. The guys were into it. They wanted the ball in their hands. The O-line wanted the ball. It’s good for us to do that as a football team. I thought today was a really good complementary football game. Three aspects. We had a nice punt return in there. Cam [kicker Cam Little] with his kicks. Logan [punter Logan Cooke] had a nice punt in there. Special teams did their part. The defense, obviously, came up huge. Travon [defensive Travon Walker], the three sacks today. The offense did their part. This is a really good complementary game today.”

On Walker’s three-sack performance against the Colts:

DOUG PEDERSON: “He was big. It was good to see him take that step forward. He and the D-line have been really close to getting to the quarterbacks during this first month of the season. I’m proud of those guys for the way they’ve stuck together and continued to work.”

On Pederson’s faith in Little and the pressure on a rookie kicker:

DOUG PEDERSON: “I think it’s — I mean, it’s pressure. But if you know Cam like we do, like I do, he kind of embraces that, honestly. And just an excellent kick. Happy for him to be able to do that. I think it’s the reason why we drafted him, and that’s the reason why he’s here. So, hats off to him and the field goal team for finishing the game.”

On how gratifying it was to have short drives result in points:

DOUG PEDERSON: “I mean, it’s a lot. Again, it just goes to the credit of the team, the credit of the players. The way they work during the week, the amount of time they spend with each other, and just to be able to finally kind of see it all kind of come together. We’ve been extremely close, right, in these games. And today it all came together, and proud of the guys for pulling this one out.”

Doug Pederson expects two key Jaguars defenders to return in Week 5

Jaguars starting defenders, linebacker Devin Lloyd and Darnell Savage Jr. are expected to play against the Colts in Week 5, Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson shared Friday.

Lloyd missed Jacksonville’s Week 4 matchup with Houston while dealing with knee soreness. Savage has been sidelined since Week 2 with a quadriceps injury.

“Devin will be good, Savage will be good. Both of those guys should play,” Pederson said.

Lloyd recorded 21 total tackles including one for loss and two defended passes over the first three weeks of the season. Savage broke up two passes against Miami in Week 1 in his debut with Jacksonville after signing with the club in free agency this offseason.

Pederson also expressed optimism, albeit comparatively not as much, about Jaguars star defensive end Josh Hines-Allen‘s status after he entered the NFL’s concussion protocol this week. Hines-Allen went down against the Texans on Sunday.

“Still in the protocol. Optimistic though. Still has through another phase but he’s doing well,” Pederson shared.

Hines-Allen, who signed a five-year, $141.3 million extension with Jacksonville in April, has 12 tackles including one for loss and two defended passes this season, bringing his career total to 264 tackles with 54 for loss, 46 sacks, two interceptions, 10 defended passes and nine forced fumbles in 78 games with the Jaguars.

Although he practiced for the first time since Week 2 this week, Jaguars starting tight end Evan Engram (hamstring) is likely to be a game-time decision in Week 5, per Pederson.

“Evan I think is still day-to-day. He’s done some good things this week but we’ll get through today, probably will be game time,” said Pederson. “But we’ll see where he’s at as we get closer.”

Engram caught one pass for five yards in Jacksonville’s season-opener against Miami, putting him up to 188 receptions for 1,734 yards and eight touchdowns in 35 games with the Jaguars.

Doug Pederson refutes report he’s lost Jaguars locker room

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson refuted a report that he has lost the respect of Jacksonville’s locker room, citing his daily communications with players and the response he has seen from his group to the club’s 0-4 start to the 2024 season.

NFL reporter Jordan Schultz shared Tuesday on the Sharp Football Show that, per conversations he has had with “a few guys in that locker room over the last two weeks,” the locker room is “gone in regards to the head coach.”

Schultz referenced Pederson’s statement following Jacksonville’s Sunday loss to Houston that “as coaches, we can’t go out there and make the plays,” suggesting Pederson had blamed Jaguars players for the result.

Asked by a reporter Wednesday if Schultz’s report was accurate and if he would be aware in the event it was, Pederson issued a clear denial.

“Yeah, I would know, I talk to these guys every day. I see them every day. And no, I have not lost the locker room,” Pederson said.

“I think these guys have done everything I’ve asked. They continue to play and practice hard and battle. It’s a good group, the right leaders [are] in there. They know, they know what we need to know. They’re not making excuses for it and I’m not going to make excuses. We’ve just got to go do it.”

Jacksonville blew a second-half comeback against Houston in Week 4, falling 24-20 after taking a 20-17 lead with 6:21 remaining in the third quarter.

It marked the latest disappointment for the Jaguars after similarly losing their grip on a Week 1 lead against Miami, being defeated in their Week 2 home opener versus the Browns and getting blown out of their Monday Night Football matchup with the Bills in Week 3.

The reporter later pressed Pederson on his response to a question post-game Sunday about his job security, which the head coach deemed “kind of a strange question” at the time.

The comment drew attention paired with the context of Pederson’s boss, Jaguars owner Shad Khan, saying roughly two months prior in a team-released documentary that “winning now is the expectation” for Jacksonville, stating his belief that the 2024 team is the best the franchise has ever fielded.

“I mean, that’s a good question. But I think, obviously you’re going to go through some setbacks in this league,” Pederson acknowledged. “There’s going to be some times where, you know, you’re going to come on some hard times. That’s just part of this game. I’ve been there before, I’ve done that before and we’ve always battled back.”

Pederson floated the beginning of his Jacksonville tenure for comparison.

The Jaguars opened the 2022 regular season 2-6 and entered Week 9 on a five-game losing streak, before going 2-2 over their next four games and undefeated in their final five, clinching an AFC Wild Card berth and a miraculous win over the Los Angeles Chargers in the first round of the playoffs.

“Even when we were 3-7 in ’22, we found a way to win a game and win multiple games. That’s all it takes,” Pederson said.

“I think too, when you look at it, and if you really look at these games with a calm eye and study the tape and see, I mean there’s mistakes, yeah. There’s mistakes. Are they critical at times? Yeah, they’re critical at times. But there’s a lot of good as we talked about the other day. That’s what we have to lean on and we just have to continue to work.”

The NFL’s lone winless team through Week 4, Jacksonville will have a chance to snap its losing skid Sunday, at home against Indianapolis.

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.”

Pederson thinks Jaguars DE Josh Hines-Allen is in concussion protocol

Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson shared his belief that star defensive end Josh Hines-Allen entered the NFL’s concussion protocol amid the Jaguars’ 24-20 loss to Texans in Houston on Sunday.

Hines-Allen briefly exited the contest with over five minutes left in the third quarter, after a six-yard rush by Texans running back J.J. Taylor. He re-entered the game two plays later for one rep but was ultimately pulled from action during Houston’s next drive.

“I’ll talk to Ferg (Jaguars vice president of player health and performance Jeff Ferguson), see what he says. But, I think so, yes,” Pederson said post-game, asked if Hines-Allen had entered concussion protocol.

Hines-Allen finished the game with three total tackles and two quarterback hits.

Through four games after signing a five-year, $141.3 million contract extension with Jacksonville in April, Hines-Allen has accumulated 12 total tackles including one for loss, one sack, two defended passes and six quarterback hits.

Pro Football Focus credits Hines-Allen for generating 10 quarterback pressures through the season’s first three weeks. The outlet had not charted the edge rusher’s Week 4 performance at press time.

If Dennis Allen’s seat wasn’t hot before, it had better be now

A 2-0 start quieted calls for Dennis Allen’s job. But if his seat wasn’t hot before, it had better be after the Saints fell to 2-2 on his watch:

Dennis Allen was a trendy pick to be the first head coach fired this year, until a 2-0 start put that notion on ice. But if his seat wasn’t hot before, it had better be after the New Orleans Saints fell to 2-2 on Sunday. Allen hasn’t done anything to win that much goodwill from Mickey Loomis, Gayle Benson, and other decision-makers on Airline Drive.

Of the ten head coaches hired in 2022, five have won fewer games than Allen has with the Saints, and three of them have already been fired. Of those remaining Allen is tied with embattled Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Pederson at 18-20, trailing behind Todd Bowles (20-18 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Mike McDaniel (21-16 with the Miami Dolphins, pending their Monday night matchup with the Tennessee Titans), and Kevin O’Connell (24-14 with the Minnesota Vikings).

Loomis has stubbornly argued that Allen’s run with the Raiders a decade ago shouldn’t matter much in evaluating his performance today. And there’s some merit to that — the NFL is known for its “What have you done for me lately?” mindset. But you can’t ignore Allen’s career record. He’s coached 74 games and only won 27 of them.

Of the 177 head coaches who have worked at least 60 games in the NFL, Allen ranks 167th in career win percentage (.351). If you only want to look at those coaches with 70-plus games to evaluate, Allen ranks 150th out of 158.

And if, like Loomis, you’re an apologist who only wants Allen’s 38-game tenure with the Saints to be considered? Of the 250 coaches with at least 38 games to their name, his win percentage (.474) ranks 133rd. Is that really worth waiting on to see if he can turn the corner?

Allen’s defense is supposed to be his bread and butter. But they’ve given up seven yards per carry in back-to-back weeks while failing to pressure an immobile quarterback in Kirk Cousins or guard a late lead against the Falcons. And these have been problems for three years now, if not longer. Allen can coach a secondary but he can’t build a strong defensive line, and his team works with such a thin margin for error that every pass interference penalty, muffed punt, and ball batted up at the line of scrimmage matters.

So what’s to be done? Allen’s contract is up after the 2025 season. The Saints were hesitant to fire him after his 7-10 start because of the guarantees left on it (even though they pay exponentially more than that in dead money for players not on their roster every year), and he did make some incremental progress to finish 9-8 last season. But we’re in Year 3. Allen is struggling to stay over .500 and win as many games as he loses. He’s had every excuse made for him and the Saints have worked hard to get him his quarterback, his offensive coordinator, his position coaches and training staff, and he still can’t produce results. They’re in third place in the NFC South, the worst division in pro football, yet again.

There’s no reason Year 4 should be promised to him, but don’t be shocked if Allen finishes the season and is tasked with coaching for his job next season. Loomis is normally too aggressive for his own good. In this case, he might be too stubborn to admit he got this hire wrong and draw out the inevitable. If we’re wrong, and Allen does right the ship and figure out how to close tight games? Then we’ll praise him for it. But he hasn’t earned that confidence yet, and time to do so is rapidly running out.

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Everything Doug Pederson said after Jaguars’ crushing loss vs. Texans

Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson said it is “not time to start pointing fingers” following the Jaguars’ 24-20 collapse of a loss to the Texans and 0-4 start to the 2024 campaign.

However, if finger-pointing is bound to occur, Pederson suggested he is willing to take the heat — at least when it comes to Jacksonville’s coaching decisions.

“As coaches, we can’t go out there and make the plays, right?” Pederson said Sunday in response to a question regarding whether he would consider taking over play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Press Taylor.

“It’s a two-way street, so you guys can sit here and point the finger all you want, and that’s fine. Point it right at me. I can take it, okay? I can take it. So, whatever you want to ask me, say, write, go ahead.”

Find everything Pederson said after the loss below.

On the Jaguars’ decision to go for it on 4th and 1:

DOUG PEDERSON: “It’s a moot point. It doesn’t matter now, so I’m not going to talk about it.”

On the absence of linebacker Devin Lloyd:

DOUG PEDERSON: “He just couldn’t make it.”

On Jacksonville’s performance in the second half:

DOUG PEDERSON: “We just made enough plays, got them off the field. Third downs were good for us, and they did a nice job there.”

On the Jaguars’ offensive performance against the Texans:

DOUG PEDERSON: “Could have been better. We missed some key plays in the game that probably could have turned the game differently, and we missed them. We’ve got to take a look at those and see where we can get better.”

On Pederson’s post-game message to the team:

DOUG PEDERSON: “Just tell them we’ve got to keep working, keep fighting. A lot of football ahead of us. It’s not time to start pointing fingers, just got to improve.”

On RB Travis Etienne Jr’s shoulder injury:

DOUG PEDERSON: “Fine.”

On the number of plays QB Trevor Lawrence missed on Sunday:

DOUG PEDERSON: “I’ve got to look at the tape. I couldn’t tell you offhand right now.”

On Jacksonville being so close to winning games:

DOUG PEDERSON: “We’re that close to flipping the switch, making more plays during the games. We’re not making them right now, and that’s what’s holding us back.”

On if Pederson is worried about his status as Jacksonville’s head coach after an 0-4 start:

DOUG PEDERSON: “My status? I mean, no. That’s kind of a strange question, but okay.”

On if Pederson did not think the Jaguars could score on a 1st and Goal and if he chose to spread the yards out:

DOUG PEDERSON: “Yeah, I mean, you know, credit them. They did a great job keeping us out of the end zone.”

On what Pederson saw in Lawrence’s performance against Houston:

DOUG PEDERSON: “I thought he played well enough. He missed, obviously there were some plays out there we missed that you’d love to have back. Played tough, thought he saw the field extremely well, but there’s some plays that he can make, and we have to make them next time.”

On if Pederson liked how the Jaguars started the game:

DOUG PEDERSON: “Yes. Guys were in a good frame of mind, ready to go.”

On the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty by WR Brian Thomas Jr:

DOUG PEDERSON: “I think it was just the action. It’s been flagged before this season, and you just got to be smarter. You can’t do that, especially after a big play.”

On if the Jaguars’ defense made adjustments at halftime or just played better:

DOUG PEDERSON: “Just played better. Got off the field on third down. It’s a great job.”

On what Pederson saw from LB Ventrell Miller today:

DOUG PEDERSON: “Played good. Obviously watch the film and grade it that way, but I thought there was some really big tackle for losses, him shooting the gap, appeared that he played good.”

On if DE Josh Hines-Allen has started the concussion protocol:

DOUG PEDERSON: “I’ll talk to Ferg (Jaguars vice president of player health and performance Jeff Ferguson), see what he says. But, I think so, yes.”

On if the mantra of “have fun, let loose” was too strong this week and affected the game:

DOUG PEDERSON: “Yes. Guys were loose, guys were ready to play. They were enjoying themselves pre-game, locker room, during the game. The sideline was energetic. They were in a good frame of mind.”

On if Pederson will consider taking over offensive play-calling:

DOUG PEDERSON: “For what? I thought [Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor] called a great game. As coaches, we can’t go out there and make the plays, right? It’s a two-way street, so you guys can sit here and point the finger all you want, and that’s fine. Point it right at me. I can take it, okay? I can take it. So, whatever you want to ask me, say, write, go ahead.”

On if Pederson could provide a voice of confidence by taking over play-calling:

DOUG PEDERSON: “Yeah, sure, okay. I’ll take it into consideration.”

‘Kind of a strange question’: Pederson unworried by Jaguars job status

Winless four games into a season where “winning now is the expectation,” according to his boss, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson is unconcerned about his job security in Jacksonville.

Meeting with reporters after Jacksonville blew a second-half comeback in Houston, losing 24-20 after the Texans scored a touchdown with 18 seconds left in regulation, Pederson called it “strange” that a reporter asked if he had begun to worry about his job status.

“Do you start worrying about your status at this point or no?” a reporter asked.

“My status?” Pederson responded.

“Yeah, after an 0-4 start,” the reporter clarified.

“I mean, no,” Pederson said. “I mean, it’s kind of a strange question but okay.”

Jaguars owner Shad Khan’s pre-training camp comments about the squad Jacksonville assembled entering the 2024 campaign offer the question validity, however.

In a team-released documentary from August, Khan did not mince words addressing the Jaguars ahead of their preseason and training camp, calling the squad “the best team assembled by the Jacksonville Jaguars, ever,” not only the player roster but also Pederson’s coaching staff.

“Best players, best coaches. But most importantly, let’s prove it by winning now,” Khan said.

Jacksonville instead is off to its sixth 0-4 start in franchise history and fourth since Khan bought the team in 2012. Pederson and the Jaguars are 1-9 in their last 10 games, dating back to Week 13 of the 2023 season.

Recap: Jaguars, now 0-4, blow second-half comeback vs. Texans

Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars took their first second-half lead since effectively fumbling one way to the Dolphins in Week 1, with the quarterback finding wide receiver Christian Kirk for an eight-yard touchdown to go up 20-17 over the Texans with 6:21 left in the third quarter.

Yet Jacksonville gave Houston every chance to claim its lead back Sunday, offering the Texans’ offense four drives to operate after Kirk’s touchdown.

Houston capitalized on its fourth and final try: Quarterback C.J. Stroud connected with former Jaguars running back Dare Ogunbowale on a one-yard score, putting the Texans up 24-20 with 18 seconds remaining in the contest.

A short ensuing kickoff forced a six-second Jacksonville return, which ended in an illegal block in the back penalty by Jaguars linebacker Yasir Abdullah, setting up a 90-yard must-score drive that the offense instead lost nine yards by lateralling on the final play.

The Jaguars had a chance to extend their lead to two possessions one series following their lead-taking touchdown. Powered by a 58-yard Tank Bigsby scamper, Jacksonville exited the third quarter looking at 4th and goal at Houston’s one-yard line.

Jacksonville called a QB Draw play out of an empty set, turning 4th and 1 into 4th and 7 by choice before Lawrence worked downfield. Guards Ezra Cleveland and Brandon Scherff were blown off the line, leading Lawrence to be stuffed at the line of scrimmage by former Jaguars defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi, who signed with the Texans this offseason.

The Texans created some chunk plays but struggled to take advantage of the Jaguars’ offense stalling in the fourth quarter, at one point pushing into field goal territory only for Jacksonville defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris to produce a 10-yard third-down sack that forced a punt.

But after Houston began its final drive at its own 31-yard line, with 2:54 left in regulation, Stroud rushed for 11 yards, connected with star receiver Nico Collins for chunk gains of 26 and 15 yards and ultimately tossed the touchdown to Ogunbowale that sealed Jacksonville’s fate, now winless four weeks into its 2024 campaign.

Lawrence went three-of-nine passing for 20 yards after his third-quarter touchdown throw to Kirk, awarded three yards for his completion to Kirk on the final play, which the receiver lateralled to Gabe Davis, who pitched it to Lawrence, who threw it backward to running back Travis Etienne Jr. before Houston made a final tackle for loss.

Jacksonville is 0-4 to begin a season for the sixth time in franchise history (1995, 2003, 2013-14 and 2021).

The Jaguars return to Jacksonville for Week 5, set to host the Colts on Sunday, Oct. 6 at 1 p.m. ET. Indianapolis (2-2) is one game behind Houston (3-1) for the No. 1 spot in the AFC South.