Tag: Jacksonville Jaguars

Pederson: Four injured Jaguars ‘all fine’ entering Raiders matchup

Pederson: Four injured Jaguars ‘all fine’ entering Raiders matchup

Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson on Friday considered the four starting Jaguars who have been limited in practice throughout Week 16 — tight end Brenton Strange, offensive tackle Walker Little, and guards Ezra Cleveland and Brandon Scherff — “all fine” ahead of the club’s Sunday road matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Strange (shoulder) and Little (ankle) suffered their injuries in Jacksonville’s 32-25 loss to the New York Jets in Week 15 but were able to finish the game. Cleveland (knee) and Scherff (knee/shoulder) have played through their hurts for multiple weeks.

Strange took over as Jacksonville’s starting tight end against New York after Evan Engram was ruled out for the season with a labrum injury that required surgery. Strange has logged 34 receptions for 329 yards and two touchdowns in 14 appearances, including 11 grabs for 73 yards versus the Jets.

The Jaguars and Raiders’ Week 16 matchup is scheduled to kick off at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev.

Jaguars vs. Raiders: Key matchups

Jaguars vs. Raiders: Key matchups

The Jacksonville Jaguars head into Week 16 against Las Vegas with some offensive momentum following a productive Sunday in their loss to the New York Jets.

One of the key storylines from the Jaguars’ defeat is their franchise record-setting rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., who has emerged as one of the best young playmakers in the league. Jacksonville’s first-round selection will be a high-level target for a healthy Trevor Lawrence in 2025 and beyond.

This week against the Raiders, the Jaguars have a chance to add another win to their lowly season total against a team projected to be selected within the first three slots in April’s NFL Draft. 

Jaguars Wire takes a closer look at the key matchups ahead of Sunday’s late afternoon bout with Desmond Ridder and the Raiders.

Jaguars secondary and linebackers vs. Raiders TE Brock Bowers

This weekend will feature two highly regarded rookie skill players, Thomas and Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, who have quickly become franchise cornerstones on their respective teams.

Bowers himself is on his way to a record-breaking rookie season as he is just over 100 yards away from breaking Mike Ditka’s rookie record for receiving yards by a tight end at 1,076.

Against a Jaguars defense that ranks last in yards allowed (396.4), Bowers has a good chance to break the record this weekend. However, there is a way to keep this from happening for at least another week.

If Jacksonville wants to slow down Bowers, match zone and heavy man coverage will be key. One idea is to allow Tyson Campbell to travel with Bowers and limit his productivity or play match coverage on the second level against Foye Oluokun, Devin Lloyd, or rookie nickelback Jarrian Jones, who we highlighted in this week’s All-22 review.

Either way, Bowers is the best player on the field for the Raiders at the moment. Limiting him would clear a path for a potential Jaguars victory in the Nevada desert.

Jaguars RB Tank Bisgby vs. Raiders defense

With Travis Etienne Jr. back in the starting lineup, Tank Bigsby’s rushing production has varied. His highest rushing total in his last five games is 55 yards. Yet, he continues to create yards after contact and make defenders miss in space at a steady clip.

The Raiders’ rushing defense could provide Bisgby with a productive game. According to Next Gen Stats, they have the 10th-highest missed crackle rate in the league at 13.9 percent. Bigsby has the third-highest missed tackle rate in the league at 36 percent.

Those numbers translate on film as well. Bigsby has a strong contract balance and jittery footwork that allows him to create yards in space consistently. A noisy day from the former Auburn Tiger tailback could spell success for Jacksonville.

Jaguars QB Mac Jones vs. Raiders QB (TBD)

Close your eyes football fans. This is not the superstar quarterback matchup you might hope for this weekend. One of the paths to success for either team is which signal-caller can play a cleaner game.

There is a possibility that Aidan O’Connell will return to the starting lineup for the Raiders this weekend. However, Desmond Ridder could be in line to start again if O’Connell can’t go (or if Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce were to make another quarterback change).

Ridder was efficient on quick-tempo passes against his former team on Monday night, the Atlanta Falcons, going 11-of-15 for 114 yards and one touchdown in that respect, according to Next Gen Stats.

Yet, he also demonstrated why he is already on the third team within one league year. Far too often, he put the ball in harm’s way and made inaccurate throws.

O’Connell doesn’t come without risk either but is a more effective vertical passer, potentially allowing Bowers to see more production downfield. However, neither are particularly great options.

Jones is also a quarterback prone to making questionable throws, including two interceptions against the Jets. He enters the weekend with a four-to-seven touchdown-to-interception ratio on the season. 

While he did give Thomas, second-year tight end Brenton Strange and wide receiver Parker Washington chances to make plays, Jones’ knack for turning the ball over at the worst times continues to plague him. 

That said, if Jones were to put up similar numbers to what he did in place of Trevor Lawrence against Houston three weeks ago, there is a sound opportunity for Jacksonville to get its fourth win of the season in Sin City.

Report weighs future of Jaguars GM Trent Baalke

Report weighs future of Jaguars GM Trent Baalke

Asked in his Thursday mailbag if Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke would return to Jacksonville for the 2025 season, Sports Illustrated NFL insider Albert Breer laid out seemingly all possibilities: Baalke’s retainment, his dismissal, or even his retirement.

In his fourth season as Jacksonville’s general manager and fifth with the franchise — one in which team owner Shad Khan sternly raised winning expectations during training camp — Baalke’s Jaguars are 3-11, eliminated from playoff contention and in the mix for their third No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft since 2021.

Breer expressed his belief that Khan should fire Baalke and pursue a new general manager this offseason, but pointed toward Baalke’s history of surviving organizational changes as a reason why he could be back with the Jaguars next season.

Or, he could go out on his own terms.

I don’t think he should. Whether he will is another question.

In San Francisco, Trent Baalke survived the firing of a GM and coach, Scot McCloughan and Mike Singletary, to become GM in the first place, then made it through Jim Harbaugh and Jim Tomsula being let go before being dumped with Chip Kelly in 2017. In Jacksonville, he survived the firings of GM David Caldwell and coach Doug Marrone to become GM in 2021 and has since made it through the Urban Meyer firing to be paired with Doug Pederson.

With the San Francisco 49ers, it was slightly more understandable why he kept making it through. The Niners roster he built, first under McCloughan (who was a scouting savant), then as GM, made it to three consecutive NFC title games, and a Super Bowl. Conversely, he arrived in Jacksonville in 2020 and has made the playoffs once in five seasons—and that’s with a top-shelf quarterback for the past four years, in the NFL’s worst division.

I have heard Baalke could retire after the season. If he doesn’t, and makes it to 2025 as the Jaguars’ GM, with all the above history plus some scouting/coaching infighting having happened in the organization … well, then I think I’d have to tip my cap to him.

If Baalke indeed plans to retire in the coming weeks or months, he is certainly not operating like it. He was reportedly “heavily involved” in the three-year contract extension the Jaguars handed starting left tackle Walker Little on Dec. 1.

Raiders vs Jaguars injury report: Raiders starting OL misses another practice

All the latest updates and news on Raiders injury report ahead of a Week 16 game vs. Jaguars.

There were no changes in status on Thursday’s injury report for the Raiders. Which means one of their starting offensive linemen was missing for a second straight day as they prepare for the Jaguars on Sunday.

Raiders, Jaguars injury report

G Jordan Meredith injury update

Meredith injured his ankle in the team’s loss to the Falcons Monday night. He has now missed two days of practices, which means his absence was not rest or precautionary, but rather raises the possibility he could miss the game on Sunday against the Jaguars.

Should he not be able to go, it would be Cody Whitehair who would step up to start. Whitehair had started three games at left guard earlier this season.

QB Aidan O’Connell injury update

Another full practice means there is a strong likelihood O’Connell will start Sunday after missing Monday’s game with a bone bruise in his knee.

WR Jakobi Meyers injury update

Meyers was once again limited by an ankle injury.

Jaguars vs. Raiders: Thursday injury reports

Jaguars vs. Raiders: Thursday injury reports

Find Jacksonville and Las Vegas’ Thursday injury reports for the Jaguars and Raiders’ Week 16 matchup below.

* indicates status upgrade from the previous practice

Jaguars injury report

  • TE Brenton Strange (shoulder) — limited
  • OT Walker Little (ankle) — limited
  • OG Ezra Cleveland (knee) — limited
  • OG Brandon Scherff (knee/shoulder) — limited

Analysis: The Jaguars made no changes to their injury report Thursday. Starting tight end Brenton Strange remains the player to watch after hurting his shoulder against the New York Jets on Sunday.

Raiders injury report

  • QB Aidan O’Connell (knee) — full
  • QB Desmond Ridder (hip) — full
  • RB Alexander Mattison (neck) — full
  • WR Ja’Kobi Meyers (ankle) — limited
  • CB Sam Webb (back) — limited
  • OG Jordan Meredith (ankle) — did not participate

Analysis: Much like the Jaguars, the Raiders did not tweak their injury report Thursday. Only backup guard Jordan Meredith was unable to practice while starting wide receiver Ja’Kobi Meyers was notably limited for a second consecutive day.

ESPN considers ‘worst mistake’ Jaguars have made in last five seasons

ESPN considers ‘worst mistake’ Jaguars have made in last five seasons

Every NFL team has made its share of mistakes. Some more, and some much bigger, than others.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are, historically, no strangers to committing errors, as they have attempted to field a Super Bowl-contending team over 30 years of existence and have only 10 winning seasons to show for it.

And in their last five, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell believes the Jaguars committed one of the biggest blunders in the league by hiring Urban Meyer as their head coach in 2021.

Barnwell considered Meyer’s short tenure in Duval the sixth-worst mistake an NFL team has made since 2020, noting the one-year Jaguars head coach’s staff choices, personal decisions and awkward moments among the flaws he committed on the job.

There are so many moments from the Meyer era that could be considered embarrassing decisions and situations in their own right. The Chris Doyle hire. Signing Tim Tebow to play tight end. Abandoning the team plane so he could go to his bar in Ohio, at which point he was filmed in close contact with someone who wasn’t his wife. An impossibly awkward handshake with Mike Vrabel. Talking about the expanded role on defense for a player who had been on the field for zero snaps. His reported unfamiliarity with Aaron Donald and Deebo Samuel. Oh, and allegedly kicking his own kicker, which finally led to the Jaguars firing him.

Meyer went 2-11, wasted a year of Trevor Lawrence’s rookie contract and set the franchise back well beyond where it was when he arrived. Doug Pederson took over as coach, and it’s a small miracle that he got the Jags to the playoffs the following season at 9-8. While Jags fans are understandably frustrated with what has happened since, even the lowlights of the Pederson era feel like Vince Lombardi in comparison to Meyer’s abbreviated run.

Jaguars Wire need not add further comment.

Barnwell faulted the Cleveland Browns for making the league’s most self-damaging move since 2020: Trading for quarterback Deshaun Watson and giving him a fully guaranteed, $230 million contract in 2022, while he faced nearly two dozen civil allegations of sexual misconduct. The NFL eventually suspended Watson for 11 games that season.

The Browns have since benched Watson after he passed for 3,365 yards with 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 19 starts, going 9-10.

All-22 review: Young Jaguars shine in back-and-forth loss to Jets

All-22 review: Young Jaguars shine in back-and-forth loss to Jets

The Jacksonville Jaguars sit at 3-11 on the season following their back-and-forth, 32-25 loss to the New York Jets. The 2024 season has been one of the most disappointing in franchise history and the blows continued on Sunday.

However, one of the upsides of having one of the worst records in the NFL is the opportunity to utilize and evaluate the young talent on the roster. Against New York, a handful of Jacksonville’s rookies and second-year players stood out.

Jaguars Wire takes a closer look at the All-22 from Sunday’s loss to examine the potential future pieces of the roster.

WR Brian Thomas Jr.’s historic rookie season

Should Trent Baalke hold onto his job as Jacksonville’s general manager this offseason, his first-round selection of the former LSU All-American may very well be the biggest reason why.

Against the Jets, Brian Thomas Jr. caught 10 passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns, breaking the franchise rookie record for receiving touchdowns and yards while tying its rookie record for receptions in a season, putting his season total at 64 catches for 956 yards and eight touchdowns.

Thomas has become more than just a vertical threat in the passing game. He has transcended into a true No. 1 target in the passing game with plenty of room to continue growing in the years to come.

One of the reasons why Thomas has begun to receive a high volume of targets is because of his smooth, yet sudden short-area bursts and quickness at the line of scrimmage.

Take his first touchdown for example. He does a great job setting up the man defender to get his feet stuck in the grass. This allows Thomas to break quickly inside and use his explosiveness out of the break to separate.

Here’s another example of Thomas winning at the line of scrimmage. He displays a textbook split release and forces the corner to be choppy in his footwork. The separation out of the break allows Thomas to catch and run away from the defender for his second touchdown of the day.

Thomas was not asked to sit and find green grass in LSU’s offense last season, raising concerns about his ability to succeed in this area. This is an example of how just because you couldn’t do it in college, doesn’t mean you can’t do it.

This was one of the most explosive plays from the Jaguars’ offensive explosion against the Jets. Thomas does a great job of exploding out of his stance and then quickly decelerating in green grass to sit and make his number available for the quarterback. After the catch, he splits defenders and takes off for a 41-yard pickup.

Thomas must continue to improve his overall play strength to better win at the line of scrimmage against physical press-man cornerbacks. There were a couple of reps against the Jets where All-Pro defender Sauce Garnder used his physicality to disrupt the timing and tempo of Thomas’ route.

If he can add more to his frame and be more assertive against physical corners, Thomas will have taken the next step to being one of the best playmakers in the NFL. Jaguars fans will be in for a treat regardless for years to come.

Rookie CB Jarrian Jones thriving in the nickel

A nice development for Jacksonville’s defense is the emergence of rookie defender Jarrian Jones, who was a standout cornerback at Florida State just down I-10.

Jones has flashed many qualities as a nickelback and may have emerged as the team’s future at this spot. He showed impressive recovery skills and awareness in man coverage, positioning himself to make plays on the ball or disrupt the timing of the catch with physicality against opposing receivers.

Below are two quality reps in coverage against Allen Lazard and All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams.

TE Brenton Strange

With versatile tight end Evan Engram out for the rest of the season with a torn labrum, the Jaguars can see what they have in second-year tight end Brenton Strange.

Strange took over Evan Engram’s role as the F-move TE where, paired with his traditional duties in-line and as a receiver, he motioned to fullback on occasion to disguise 21 and 12 personnel looks.

Strange is an above-average athlete who was used on screens to create after the catch and shows good quickness out of breaks. He is also a reliable and tough hands catcher who caught 11 passes for 73 yards against the Jets.

Jaguars vs. Raiders: Initial injury reports

Jaguars vs. Raiders: Initial injury reports

Find initial injury reports for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders’ Week 16 matchup below.

Jaguars injury report

  • TE Brenton Strange (shoulder) — limited
  • OT Walker Little (ankle) — limited
  • OG Ezra Cleveland (knee) — limited
  • OG Brandon Scherff (knee/shoulder) — limited

Analysis: Tight end Brenton Strange and offensive tackle Walker Little are the only additions to Jacksonville’s injury report as both got hurt against the New York Jets on Sunday.

Strange suffered an AC joint sprain in the game, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson revealed on Wednesday, but finished the contest with 11 receptions for 73 yards, both single-game career highs.

Little briefly exited the matchup after rolling his ankle but quickly returned to action, only missing one snap against the Jets.

Raiders injury report

  • QB Aidan O’Connell (knee) — full
  • QB Desmond Ridder (hip) — full
  • RB Alexander Mattison (neck) — full
  • WR Ja’Kobi Meyers (ankle) — limited
  • CB Sam Webb (back) — limited
  • OG Jordan Meredith (ankle) — did not participate

Analysis: Las Vegas’ typical starting quarterback, Aidan O’Connell, and backup-turned-starter for Monday Night Football against Atlanta, Desmond Ridder, were both full participants in Wednesday’s practice. Starting wide receiver Ja’Kobi Meyers was limited.

Surgeries completed for Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence, TE Evan Engram

Surgeries completed for Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence, TE Evan Engram

Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and tight end Evan Engram had successful surgeries to address season-ending injuries this week, Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson said on Wednesday.

Lawrence underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair an AC joint sprain in his left shoulder, which he suffered in Week 9 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

After missing two games due to the injury, Lawrence returned to play in Week 13 against Houston but sustained a concussion on an illegal hit by Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.

The combination of injuries led Jacksonville to place Lawrence on its injured reserve on Dec. 4, ending his season. He cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol on Sunday, allowing him to schedule his shoulder operation for Tuesday.

Engram hurt his shoulder against the Tennessee Titans in Week 14, which he was originally expected to play through, per Pederson. However, testing revealed Engram suffered a labrum injury that required surgery, which he had on Monday.

Like Lawrence, Engram was moved to the Jaguars’ injured reserve on Saturday, ending his campaign.

“Everything was positive in both players’ cases and just now looking forward to recovery time,” Pederson said Wednesday.

Lawrence finished his season having completed 172-of-284 passing for 2,045 yards with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions, and rushed for 119 yards and three scores, in 10 starts.

Engram, who also missed Weeks 2-5 with a hamstring injury, caught 47 passes for 365 yards and one touchdown in nine starts.

While it is unclear if Lawrence and Engram will be cleared to participate in organized team activities (OTAs), which occurred in May this past offseason, Pederson anticipates both players recovering fully from their surgeries by sometime this spring.

“Don’t know that yet. It’s hard to put a timeframe on it, you don’t want to rush it,” said Pederson. “I guess the thing is too, in both cases, they’re not long-term, lengthy-type surgeries [or] recovery time. So, at some point this spring they’ll be ready to go.”

Jaguars new starting TE dealing with shoulder injury

Jaguars new starting TE dealing with shoulder injury

Jaguars’ new starting tight end Brenton Strange is dealing with an AC joint sprain in his left shoulder and will begin Week 16 limited in practice, Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson revealed on Wednesday.

Strange took over as Jacksonville’s starting tight end for the rest of the year after Evan Engram was ruled out for the season with a labrum injury last week.

Strange caught a career-high 11 passes for 73 yards against the New York Jets on Sunday.

“Brenton [had an] AC sprain coming out of the game. He’ll just be a little bit limited, he’ll be fine,” Pederson said. “We’ll just limit him today, no contact, things like that.”

Jacksonville’s second-round, No. 61 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, Strange has logged 34 receptions for 329 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games and seven starts this season, a breakout campaign after he hauled in only five passes for 35 yards and one touchdown as a rookie.

Strange started for Jacksonville in Weeks 2-5 as Engram nursed a hamstring injury suffered in the first game of the season, against the Miami Dolphins.

“Brenton’s been a bright spot for us,” Pederson described Strange Monday. “Somebody who we’ve always, as a staff, really have had a lot of confidence in. I think too for Brenton, it’s just a matter of getting that opportunity, and now he has it, obviously, under unfortunate circumstances. But he really has just been a bright spot.

“He’s done everything we’ve asked. He does a great job in the run game, he’s physical. Then, you’re seeing what he can do in the pass game. Great hands, ability to separate and get open, and then break tackles. That’s what you want from your tight end.”

Jacksonville will face the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Week 16, at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday.