Tag: Jacksonville Jaguars

Colts remain 3.5-point favorites vs. Jaguars

Indy remains favorites over the Jags.

The Indianapolis Colts (5-4) are set to host the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-5) at Lucas Oil Stadium for a Week 11 home matchup on Sunday.

This divisional bout is huge for both teams and just as the Colts opened the week as 3.5-point favorites, they will remain that entering the weekend, per BetMGM.

The Colts will be getting their starting quarterback in Jacoby Brissett to return from an MCL sprain that caused him to miss one game. Though it doesn’t appear wide receiver T.Y. Hilton will be ready to go.

The Jaguars are trying to get back into the race following their bye week. They will also see the return of their starting quarterback in Nick Foles, who has been out since suffering a collarbone injury in Week 1.

This matchup is huge for both teams. The Colts are trying to end a two-game slide while the Jaguars are looking to climb back into the AFC playoff picture.

It seems, for now, the Colts are slight home favorites against their divisional foes.

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Leonard Fournette says Jags’ current roster is the closest team he’s ever played for

Leonard Fournette has stepped up as one of the Jags’ locker room leaders and has taken note to how close the Jags 2019 roster is.

With the playoffs nearing, the Jacksonville Jaguars will have a tough stretch of games coming up but running back Leonard Fournette believes they have the locker room to whether the storm. Upon meeting with the media this week, the third-year tailback stated that the Jags’ current locker room is the closest he’s ever been a part of, which is something he believes will help the Jags as they chase the playoffs.

Fournette’s statements come after the Jags have already been through a lot of adversity as Nick Foles missed eight games and All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey was traded. However, instead of folding and handling things like 2018’s locker room would have, the Jags rallied behind rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew II and  came away from the first half of the season 4-5. Sure, that’s not an impressive record to the eyes, but things could’ve been significantly worse.

Fournette, who came into the season with a lot of critics, has also stepped up on the field and in the locker room. He started the offseason by trimming down and training in Wyoming. Afterward, he came back to Jacksonville with a new mindset to be one of the locker room’s leaders, which has shown in his actions and his younger teammates have especially followed his lead.

Fournette will enter Week 11 as the AFC’s third-leading rusher with 831yards to his name. That’s a figure which indicates he’ll finish the season with a career-high, especially with the NFL season reaching the point where the run game is crucial.

Will the Jags-Colts Week 11 game be on TV in your area?

The Jags and Colts game is a must-win for both teams, however, the coverage on the game won’t be huge around the nation.

It’s crunch time for the 4-5 Jacksonville Jaguars who are currently on the outside looking in on the AFC playoff race. This week, they will be taking on  their longtime rivals in the Indianapolis Colts (5-4), who are equally desperate due to being on a two-game skid which has decreased their playoff chances.

The No. 2 spot in the AFC South will also be on the line for the winner of Sunday’s game, though the wild-card spot is what both teams should be likely eying. In the process, both starting quarterbacks Nick Foles and Jacoby Brissett (likely) will be returning to the field, which has made the meeting between the two rivals a tough one to call.

All of that said, both Jags and Colts fans will be viewing this one as a must-win and the fans in the yellow region of the TV coverage map below will be able to tune in locally via CBS.

(Courtesy of 506 Sports)

Announcing the game will be Andrew Catalon (play-by-play), James Lofton (color analyst) and Michael Grady (sideline).

Sunday’s game will mark the first meeting between the Jags and Colts of the year. The Colts lead the all-time series between the two rivals with a 23-13 record, however, the Jags won the last meeting by a score of 6-0.

The game will also have an interesting storyline behind it due to Foles and Jags offensive coordinator John DeFilippo playing in their first game against their former offensive coordinator in Colts head coach Frank Reich. As many can recall, the trio all were a part of the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2017 team that won Super Bowl LII with Foles leading the way as the game’s MVP.

Jaguars nominate Calais Campbell for 2019 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award

Calais Campbell earned his second consecutive nomination for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award Thursday.

It’s that time of the year where each of the NFL’s 32 teams selects a nominee for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award, and just as they did last year, the Jacksonville Jaguars have elected to go with team captain Calais Campbell.

The award, of course, is named after the late Art Rooney Sr., who was the founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and is a Pro Football Hall-of-Famer in Canton. The award has existed since 2014 and is given to a player who shows exemplary sportsmanship qualities on the field annually.

Last season, Campbell was named one of eight semifinalists for the award which ultimately went to New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees. Some of the notables who joined him in the process were quarterback Andrew Luck (Colts), defensive backs Eric Weddle (Ravens) and Tramon Williams (Packers) to name a few.

The winner will be announced at the NFL Honors show which will air on Fox on Saturday, Feb. 1. The winner will also be awarded a $25,000 donation to the charity of the players choice.

Jags add Ronnie Harrison, Seth DeValve to injury report but still have full participation

The Jags had full participation in practice Thursday, but added Ronnie Harrison and Seth DeValve to their injury report (vs. Colts).

Just as they did Wednesday, the Jacksonville Jaguars had full participation Thursday as the team continued to prepare for the Indianapolis Colts. However, there were two new additions to the report in safety Ronnie Harrison (eye) and tight end Seth DeValve (oblique), both of whom were limited.

Defensive lineman Calais Campbell (back), offensive tackle Cam Robinson (knee) and center Brandon Linder (shoulder) remained limited participants just as they did Wednesday. However, with the final injury report set to be released Friday, it’s possible all three could be upgraded Friday as their two days of limited participation might be a good sign for game day.

Receiver Dede Westbrook and nickelback D.J. Hayden remained full participants with their neck/shoulder injuries, which is a sign that they won’t miss Week 11’s game as they did Week 9 against the Houston Texans.

Linebackers Quincy Williams and Leon Jacobs also remained full participants with their respective hamstring injuries.

Colts vs. Jaguars: NFL experts make Week 11 picks

Who are the experts taking in Week 11?

The Indianapolis Colts (5-4) are preparing to host the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-5) on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium for a Week 11 divisional matchup.

As both starting quarterbacks are expected to return from injury, most believe this will be a physical battle in the trenches. The Colts opened the week as slight home favorites, but the NFL experts around the league are split on who will win.

Here’s a look at who some of the experts are picking for this Week 11 matchup:

Expert Pick Score (if applicable)
Nate Davis (USA TODAY) Colts 20-16
Mike Jones (USA TODAY) Colts 28-26
Jarrett Bell (USA TODAY) Colts 24-20
Mike Clay (ESPN) Colts N/A
Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News) Colts 23-19
Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Jaguars 21-17
Jared Dubin (CBS Sports) Colts N/A
Todd Haislop (Sporting News) Jaguars 26-21
NumberFire Colts N/A
Pro Football Focus Colts N/A
Bleacher Report Jaguars 23-20

After participating fully in Wednesday’s practice, Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett is expected to be ready to start. The 26-year-old missed the Week 10 home matchup with the Miami Dolphins due to a knee sprain.

On the flip side, the Jaguars will be seeing the return of quarterback Nick Foles, who suffered a broken collarbone in Week 1 against the Chiefs. Rookie Gardner Minshew has been under center since then.

As the Colts prepare to make a run for a playoff spot during the second half of the season, this Week 11 matchup will be crucial to ending the current slide the team is enduring.

Titans RB Derrick Henry is FedEx Ground’s NFL Player of the Week

This is the first time Henry has received the award this season, and he is the only Titan to be nominated so far this year.

Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry is a key component of the offense, and has made that evident in his latest performances for the team.

Henry was named the FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week, following last week’s 35-32 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

On the victory, he rushed for 188 yards on 23 attempts, with an average of 8.2 yards per carry. He also accounted for two Tennessee touchdowns on Sunday.

This was Henry’s second 100-yard rushing game of 2019 and his sixth career 100-yard rushing game in the regular season.

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The performance also accounted for the former Alabama standout’s second consecutive 100-yard game against the Kansas City, with the first being a 2017 playoff game.

This is the first time Henry has received the award this season, and he is the only Titan to be nominated so far this year.

FedEx will also donate $2,000 to The USO in Henry’s name.

On the season, Henry has racked up a total of 187 carries for 832 yards and eight touchdowns. He averages 4.4 yards per carry.

The Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson was awarded the FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week on the same week for his 223 yards, 3 passing touchdowns, 0 interceptions and perfect 158.3 passer rating in the team’s 49-13 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

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Henry and the Titans will look to add another big win when they face the division rival Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 24 at 3:05 p.m. CT in Nissan Stadium.

Nick Foles on Colts HC Frank Reich: “He’s a guy that has impacted my life so much”

Nick Foles says he’s forever grateful for Colts HC Frank Reich, who changed his career in a big way while with the Eagles.

Not only will Sunday’s game mark the first for quarterback Nick Foles since his Week 1 collarbone injury but it will also mark the first time that he and offensive coordinator John DeFilippo will be up against one of their former bosses in Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich. With the three winning a Super Bowl together in 2017 with the Philadelphia Eagles, there is a great deal of respect between the three and Foles expressed that this week by praising Reich, who was his former offensive coordinator and obviously played a key part in his career.

“He’s a guy that I admire more than anything,” Foles said Wednesday. “He’s a guy that has impacted my life so much, and he’s going to be on the opposing sideline, so that’s going to be fun. […] I think it will be emotional seeing him because of what he means to me. He’s one of the greatest people I’ve ever met, so when he went there I was so excited for him. But I’m going to go out there and play.”

When Eagles starting quarterback Carson Wentz went down in December of 2017 with a torn ACL in his left knee, nobody expected Foles to have the run that he did and lead the team to the playoffs. However, Reich (and DeFilippo) worked with the veteran to revitalize his career. Needless to say, Foles had the best year of his career, going 77-of-106 (72.6%) for 971 yards and six touchdowns in the postseason. He also ended up becoming the Super Bowl’s MVP as a result.

The Jags could have the edge going into Sunday’s game being that there is a lack of film on Foles. Then again, nobody knows Foles and DeFilippo as well as Reich does, so things could be rather interesting.

Bears WR Allen Robinson ready to face former teammate CB Jalen Ramsey in Week 11

Bears WR Allen Robinson has a tall task in front of him in Week 11: Facing former Jaguars teammate CB Jalen Ramsey.

When the Chicago Bears head to Los Angeles to face the Rams, receiver Allen Robinson will find himself locked in a battle with former Jacksonville Jaguars teammate cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

It’s safe to assume that Ramsey will cover Robinson exclusively, looking to take away quarterback Mitchell Trubisky’s top target. A challenge that Robinson welcomes.

‘‘It’s gonna be physical, it’s gonna be competitive, it’s gonna be fun,’’ Robinson said, via the Sun-Times. ‘‘I’m definitely looking forward to it. . . . I talk, he talks, so it’ll be fun.’’

In a season where the Bears offense has struggled immensely, Robinson has been the gear that has made the offense go. Robinson’s production this season — with 53 catches for 618 yards and three touchdowns — is already nearing his production from 2018. And there’s still seven games remaining.

Given Robinson’s success, it’s no wonder why nearly 27% of Chicago’s passes go Robinson’s way. In fact, no other wide receivers have neared 300 yards receiving or half his receptions.

Trubisky and the Bears’ offense will need to be aware of Ramsey’s presence, as he’s always a threat to make a play. While Robinson typically is Trubisky’s security blanket, it’s going to be much more difficult to get him the ball.

‘‘We expect him to match A-Rob,’’ Trubisky said of Ramsey. ‘‘Obviously, he’s in a new scheme, so I think he’s still getting used to that. But most of the time he’s matching, and he’s just gonna cover his guy and try and shut that down.’’

Robinson knows Ramsey well, and he expects nothing short of a physical battle.

‘‘At some of the catch points, he tries to be a little more physical,’’ Robinson said. ‘‘If you catch the ball on the sideline, you know he’s gonna be physical. There’s a lot you can expect in this game.’’

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Gardner Minshew disappointed with losing starter role but grateful for the experience

Jags quarterback Gardner Minshew II wanted to remain the team’s starter but says he wouldn’t trade the eight starts he got for the role.

After going on a 4-4 run as a starter, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew II will resume taking snaps as the team’s No. 2 quarterback this week as Nick Foles was renamed the team’s starter. While the competitor in him was disappointed about being named the backup again, Minshew told the media that he was grateful for his time on the field as he received a grand opportunity to learn a ton about the league.

“I was disappointed a little bit, obviously, because everybody wants to be that guy in the huddle,” Minshew said Wednesday. “But if you had told me at the beginning of year that I’d get to play half a season and then be able to learn, I’d have said I would take that deal 100 percent. I got a lot of good experience and I’m also going to be able to learn from one of the best dudes in the business.”

Minshew continued by stating that the experience he received made him believe that he proved himself as a NFL quarerback, however, there are some things in which he will look to improve upon before he’s given another chance.

“I think I proved I can be a guy in this league for a long, long time,” Minshew added. “I think they believe that. And there’s other things we’re going to get better at so the next time I do get this opportunity, I’ll be ready and I’ll be better and we’re all going to progress together.”

Minshew not only proved that there is a place in the league for him, but he played well enough to make fans wonder if he’s a starter. During his stretch of eight starts he was named Pepsi Rookie of the Week six times and Rookie of the Month in September. Statistically, he finished his stint as a starter 188-of-307 (61.2%) for 2,285 yards, 13 touchdowns, four picks and a quarterback rating of 92.8.

For the Jags, they now should feel very comfortable if Foles sustains another injury and Minshew has to step in. Heading forward, it will also be interesting to see Minshew’s development in the offseason and preseason as he builds upon the starts he received this year.