Tag: Laviska Shenault

Report: Jags WR Laviska Shenault scheduled for an MRI after sustaining a shoulder injury vs. Broncos

Per Adam Schefter, Shenault sustained a shoulder injury that will require an MRI Monday. Of course, we’ll have updates as they become available.

The Jacksonville Jaguars got out of Week 1 pretty healthy, but that wasn’t the case Week 2 after their loss to Denver. With injuries occurring in the game to veterans James O’Shaughnessy, A.J. Cann, and second-year player CJ Henderson, there will be one more name to monitor Monday: receiver Laviska Shenault Jr.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the second-year player will have an MRI on his shoulder Monday after sustaining an injury Sunday. This news comes after there was a play where Shenault was brought down on the Jags’ sideline in Week 2’s game and came up slow while several trainers looked at him. In all probability, that was the play where the injury was sustained, though he did finish the game.

Shenault wasn’t able to get going Sunday catching two passes for -3 yards (seven targets), and part of it may have been playing through his injury.  Heading into this offseason he was a player the staff had big plans for, but if he has to miss significant time, it could put the Jags’ offense in worse shape than it is.

Jags coach Urban Meyer will meet with the media early Monday afternoon, so an update on Shenault could come then. Regardless, we’ll be sure to post the latest.

Listen: What players on the Jags’ roster could be fantasy-relevant?

What Jags players could be fantasy relevant this season? Find out on our latest episode of “Bleav in the Jags” as we had a crossover recording with the “Candlestick Kids Podcast.”

The NFL preseason is here, which means it’s almost time for several football fans to start taking part in fantasy leagues. With that being the case, fans are going to be watching the preseason carefully to get the slightest edge on their opponents in the fantasy world.

Luckily for those who have been looking for a preview of the Jags, we got you covered and looked at many of the top offensive players for the Jags who aren’t a fantasy football powerhouse but could provide the right player with a gem or two.

Fantasy experts Sky Guasco and Bobby LaMarco of the “Candlestick Kids Podcast” provided this preview by joining us for episode 82 of “Bleav in the Jags” as we specifically looked at notables like James Robinson, Laviska Shenault, Trevor Lawrence, and more. Additionally, Guasco and LaMarco previewed some fantasy-relevant names to watch in the AFC South who Jags fans may be familiar with.

The episode can be heard below in the media player, while archived episodes can be revisited here.

Feel free to subscribe to “Bleav in the Jags” via Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or Spotify.

2021 Jaguars training camp: Day 2 practice takeaways

Trevor Lawrence stacked another solid performance on top of the day he had previously. However, he seems to have improved even more, linking up with his top receivers like Marvin Jones and Laviska Shenault numerous times.

The Jacksonville Jaguars took the field for their second practice of training camp, and the energy was even higher this time. It was the first practice where fans had been allowed to attend since 2019 (with the coronavirus pandemic preventing it in 2020), and they did not disappoint in terms of the turnout.

Of course, everyone in attendance wanted to see No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence, who stacked his second consecutive impressive day. However, he wasn’t the only first-round pick from 2021 that gave fans a show as Travis Etienne shined, too, as well as a few others on both sides of the ball.
Here are a few takeaways the media was able to gather from the Jags’ practice on Thursday:

2021 first-round picks shine

Fans and media members certainly couldn’t get enough of Lawrence and Etienne on Thursday, who proved why they were once collegiate football champions. After coach Urban Meyer said the rookie and Gardner Minshew II would alternate days with the first-team, it was Lawrence’s turn to get the first reps with the starting offense.

The rookie signal-caller started the day off linking up with two of his top-3 receivers in Marvin Jones Jr. and Laviska Shenault Jr. One throw, that went to Shenault, was through a tight window in the middle of the field. His early throws to Jones included a pass the veteran receiver had to high-point (displaying good hands) while running a horizontal pattern. The other notable throw was a bomb where Jones was open deep for a vertical streak that was a touchdown.

A few onlookers were quick to note the difference between Lawrence and Minshew as Lawrence simply has the better physical skill set. His throwing velocity, in particular, has been discussed, and the receivers have seemingly adjusted to the change well.

As for Etienne, he broke off two runs early where his burst was on display and the crowd loved it.

K’Lavon Chaisson standing out on defense

The pads aren’t on, so it’s hard to put a lot into the offensive and defensive lines, though it was noted that the backup offensive line struggled yesterday. However, on the defensive side, K’Lavon Chaisson is one of the players who a few reporters noticed. He had a few situations where he would’ve forced an early throw or acquired a sack on Thursday.

Sidney Jones IV makes the highlight defensive play of the day

Sidney Jones IV, who had a knack for making plays last season, made the most notable play of Thursday’s practice with a one-handed pick on backup quarterback CJ Beathard. Though the receiver slipped, it still was a nice pick. 

Injuries and roster news

The player who we’ve projected to be the Jags’ top tight end, James O’Shaughnessy, worked off to the side Thursday though it’s unknown why. His status will be worth monitoring as he flashed on Day 1 and is a player who could be a key factor this offseason. 

Cornerback Luq Barcoo was officially activated off the Jags’ Reserve/COVID-19 list this morning, leaving just corners Chris Claybrooks and CJ Henderson on it. The team also announced that Jake Luton was activated off the list earlier in the day. 

Jags’ skill position group to come at a ridiculous bargain in 2021

The figures the Jags are paying out to their skill positions are super cap friendly, leaving room for opportunities down the road.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will enter this season with a young team that’s full of players on their rookie deals. One of those players is No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence, who plays the most expensive position on the field.

This month, the Jags signed Lawrence to a four-year deal worth $36.8 million that includes a $24.1 million signing bonus. When looking at what the top quarterbacks in the league are making (averaging $25-$45 million) that’s a bargain. However, he’s far from the only player the Jags are getting on such a cap-friendly deal.

When looking at the Jags’ entire starting skill group (and a few other notables), fans might be even more astonished at their overall price. Their starting skill players plus their RB2, WR3, and TE2 all combine for a cap figure of just over $22 million in 2021 ($22.2 million by Spotrac’s math), which leaves room for a lot of opportunities down the road.

The Jags’ starting skill group is projected to consist of Lawrence, James Robinson, DJ Chark Jr., Marvin Jones Jr., and James O’Shaughnessy based on who is on the team now. Rookie first-round selection Travis Etienne could be considered the Jags RB2 by some, although the plans are probably to use him mostly on third downs. Then at the WR3 position will be Laviska Shenault Jr., and the TE2 should be Chris Manhertz (or he and O’Shaughnessy could be interchangeable at TE1)

Of the aforementioned names, Etienne and Chark are on rookie draft selection contracts like Lawrence. Meanwhile, Robinson is on an undrafted free agent rookie deal, while Jones and O’Shaughnessy have cap hits that are just under $1.6 million and $4.8 million, respectively. Manhertz’s cap hit is also $2,625,000 (base salary is $1 million) this season. When combining these total figures using Spotrac’s numbers it all totals out to be approximately $22,299,696.

As mentioned last week, a bulk of the Jags’ money is going to their offensive line and linebacker groups, both of which are the highest-paid in the NFL. In fact, the Jags’ top-6 highest salaries for 2021 belong to either an offensive lineman or linebacker. The Jags’ highest base salary figure ($13,754,000) of 2021 will be paid out to Cam Robinson on the franchise tag. Behind him are Myles Jack ($9.5 million), Andrew Norwell ($9 million), Brandon Linder ($8 million), Joe Schobert ($7 million), and A.J. Cann ($4,675,000), respectively. 

Of course, these numbers change on a year-to-year basis, and in 2022, DJ Chark will be the top skill player on the roster due for a new contract. Still, all of the aforementioned figures mean there will be plenty of money to get a deal done with him, especially with Cam Robinson, Norwell, and Cann being more replaceable 2022 free agents. 

Jaguars should build around these three players, per PFF

PFF thinks Trevor Lawrence, Laviska Shenault Jr. and Josh Allen are the three players the team should build around. Do you agree?

After an offseason that saw Jacksonville rebuild almost completely, bringing in a new front office, coaching staff, and starting quarterback, the team is expected to look fairly different in 2021. However, aside from new passer Trevor Lawrence, the team returns a young core that will be relied upon in the years to come.

According to Pro Football Focus’ Ben Linsey, the three players the Jaguars should build around are Lawrence (obviously), receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. and edge rusher Josh Allen.

Jacksonville managed to steal the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft from the New York Jets late in the season, and the best quarterback prospect to come out of the college ranks in years was their prize. Lawrence earned 90.0-plus grades in three consecutive seasons as Clemson’s quarterback. He has several intriguing young weapons to work with on offense. Shenault might top that list. The Colorado product was used in a limited role as a rookie, seeing an average depth of target just 6.6 yards downfield in 2020, but he has the size and rare athleticism to be a dynamic playmaker in a more traditional wide receiver role moving forward.

Allen represents the Jaguars’ best chance of generating a consistent pass rush in 2021. The 24-year-old earned pass-rush grades of at least 70.0 in each of his first two seasons, and that should be his floor moving forward.

Lawrence is expected to develop into an elite NFL quarterback, but the other two selections are somewhat surprising. Defensively, Allen has shown signs of excellence, but he hasn’t been the leader of the unit. That title goes to linebacker Myles Jack, who was one of the NFL’s best linebackers at the beginning of the 2020 season.

Both players will likely have expiring contracts after the 2023 season, but Jack will have to continue his high level of play in the coming years to justify a second big contract, while if Allen continues to progress, he should see a big extension at the end of his rookie deal.

A similar dynamic exists at the receiver spot. D.J. Chark has been Jacksonville’s best receiver the last two years, reaching 1,000 yards in 2019 and still breaking 700 yards in 2020 despite struggles at quarterback. But 2020 second-round pick Shenault impressed as a rookie, nearly matching Chark’s receiving total.

Shenault has three years remaining on his rookie deal, while Chark’s expires after the 2021 season. The team will almost certainly look to give him an extension, but a big season from Shenault would give the Jags a bit more flexibility in negotiations.

With a quarterback that will be on a rookie contract for at least a while, Jacksonville should have the cap space to keep Chark and Jack around if it wants to. But regardless, PFF thinks the team should look to its younger players to build around.

DJ Chark says the Jags’ are ready to shock the NFL

Jags WR DJ Chark spoke highly of his teammates Friday on NFL Network and believes the Jags’ changes this offseason have been huge.

The taste of going 1-15 last season didn’t sit well with anyone on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 2020 roster, including their star receiver DJ Chark. However, 2021 provides a new opportunity for the fourth-year receiver and his team to better themselves and Chark is eager to do so with a new staff and new teammates who’ve provided him with a revamped scene.

When asked what are the expectations from the team’s perspective by NFL Network, Chark stated that there weren’t specific goals in mind for the team but felt that their willingness to compete would make them a significantly better group. He added that their competitive mindset would speak for itself on the field and also put the Jags in position to shock people.

“Just to go out there and compete, be better than what we were last year,” Chark said . “The 1-15 season is somewhere that we don’t want to go back. Everyone that’s here understands that. The guys that came in came from a lot of winning programs so we’re trying to develop that winning culture and just that comradery here and I think we’re going to do really good. I think we’re gonna shock a lot of people. I’m not one of the people that’s huge on setting record goals or anything like that, or saying how many wins or losses we’re gonna have but we’re gonna be an exciting football team, for sure.”

Jags coach Urban Meyer has frequently said he doesn’t view the Jags as a team that is rebuilding, which means he’s expecting immediate success in his first year. However, for that to happen, Chark will need to return to Pro Bowl form, while the passing game, in general, will need to play to its potential, too.

In the interview, Chark seemed highly confident that both he and the passing game could be the group to get the Jags on track, praising his notable teammates like Laviska Shenault Jr., Marvin Jones Jr., and first overall pick Trevor Lawrence.

“We take a lot of responsibility and accountability when it comes to the passing game,” he said. “Marvin coming in, [he’s] a dynamic player. Laviska being young and so dynamic, me still trying to reach new heights. I think we have a lot to prove but I think it’s gonna come together real smooth. And definitely being able to have Trevor back there, it’s crazy how that he’s so young and so talented. So, the sky is the limit, really, with us right now. We don’t know how great we can be but we know we can be great, for sure.”

If the aforementioned names can have success through the air, the Jags’ season will undoubtedly be more successful than 2020’s run. That should also lead to Chark emerging again and becoming the star many fans believe he can be.

Marvin Jones gives his impressions on the Jaguars’ WR group from OTAs

Jacksonville’s free-agent addition at receiver had high praise for the rest of the group’s performance at OTAs.

There aren’t many position groups with higher expectations for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021 than the receiving corps. Despite the team’s disappointing 1-15 season in 2020, the receiving corps was a strength. D.J. Chark took a slight step back from his breakout 2019 campaign, but the additions of rookies Laviska Shenault and Collin Johnson more than made up for it.

Now that the team finally has an answer at quarterback, the receiver group is expected to take a major leap forward. With OTAs underway for Jacksonville, new free agent signing Marvin Jones Jr. (one of the top receivers from a production standpoint the Jags have had in years) finally got the opportunity to see the whole group in action.

Jones was impressed by what he saw, but he also said it was par for the course for what he expected given how the team meetings in the prior weeks had gone.

“I think it’s been great, and I think it’s just a transfer to what we’ve been doing for the past three weeks before we even got on the field with all of the coaches and stuff like that,” he said. “We’ve spent a lot of time together, probably almost two months now, so it’s been good.”

One thing that has already stood out to Jones is the versatility of the receiving group. It has Chark, who largely fits the mold of a deep-threat burner with his 6-foot-4 frame and top-tier ball skills, and Shenault, who lined up all over the field as a rookie and saw a good amount of action, taking carries out of the backfield in addition to seeing reps as a receiver.

Jones said he thinks the wide array of skill sets in the wideout room will be majorly beneficial to Jacksonville’s offensive production in Year 1 of the new regime, led by head coach Urban Meyer.

“Everybody’s going around flying fast and making big plays as we should and as we knew we were going to do,” Jones said. “There’s a lot of people, a lot of receivers in our group that can have different abilities and can put them in different places. You put Laviska [Shenault Jr.] in the backfield and watch him work and stuff like that. Everybody’s been great and everybody’s been taking the coaching and just having a good time. So, we’re just going to continue to do that.”

That’s exactly the kind of optimism Jags fans should want to hear from a high-budget free agent signing, and it’s a good sign for a unit that should the strength of the team in 2021.

5 players who could break out for the Jags in 2021

Josh Allen wasn’t able to match his rookie season, but with a scheme more suited to his strengths, he should make a jump in 2021.

The Jacksonville Jaguars were one of the teams who went through the most drastic of changes this offseason after winning just one game last season. However, the positive part about their 2020 roster is that it was the youngest in the NFL, meaning there is a lot of upside and nowhere to go but up.

When looking at the Jags’ roster last season, there are several names from the 2020 roster who flashed, and some who didn’t, who could look even better in 2021 thanks to the new regime. Here’s a look at five of the most important ones who could drastically improve their performances from what fans witnessed a year ago:

Griffin, Shenault discuss Jags’ high energy level during start of new OTA phase

Laviska Shenault and Shaquill Griffin both have spoke highly of the Jags’ start to Phase 2 of OTAs.

Since Urban Meyer has begun to interact with the Jacksonville Jaguars’ locker room, there has been mostly nothing but excitement. That excitement seems to have carried into Phase 2 of voluntary workouts, which started Wednesday.

When speaking with Jaguars.com, veteran cornerback Shaquill Griffin spoke highly of the Jags’ energy on the field as there was almost full attendance during Day 1 of the latest phase of organized team activities.

“It’s a different mentality, it’s a different vibe, it’s a different energy,” said Griffin to Jaguars.com reporter Ashlyn Sullivan. “I can feel everybody starting to buy into it. Everybody is starting to believe [it]. That’s why it’s easier for us to practice out here. [We] really want to get better, everybody is working for each other. Everybody wants to see everybody improve.”

Griffin, who signed with the Jags in the early stages of free agency, has spoken highly of his encounters with new coach Urban Meyer since his first days with the Jags. With him coming from a successful team like the Seattle Seahawks, it certainly gave fans hope of what the Jags could build as they were a one-win team in 2020.

Since then, many others like Myles Jack and Josh Allen have echoed those sentiments. Now, that excitement is making its way onto the field. 

In addition to the Jags’ top veteran leaders, second-year receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. is also optimistic about what’s to come under the new regime based on what he observed during Day 1 of Phase 2.

“[We’re] energized,” he said. “Hungry. Self-motivated. I can keep going on and on. Great vibes, I can tell you that.”

Shenault’s statements about himself and his teammates are promising this early in the offseason. If they hold true throughout training camp, the start of the Jags’ 2021 season should be off to a significantly better start than last season.

Look: Laviska Shenault gives fans a preview of how the No. 2 would look on him

Laviska Shenault wore the No. 2 in college and high school (at times), and he could now go back to that figure due to the NFL’s new rules.

With the NFL loosening their jersey number rules, several players on the Jacksonville Jaguars roster could end up changing their numbers. Among those contemplating a change is second-year receiver Laviska Shenault Jr., who appears to have his eye on the No. 2.

On his Instagram page, he posted an edited picture with him donning the number in the Jags’ all teal combination, which may be a sign of what’s to come in the regular season.

https://www.instagram.com/p/COB4p_Yn5jy/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

For the fans who’ve followed Shenault, the No. 2 was the number he wore while with Colorado in college. He also wore it at times in high school as a member of the DeSoto High Eagles.

When Shenault posted his picture, some of his teammates chimed in like receivers Colin Johnson, who appeared to give the change a thumbs up, while DJ Chark suggested that his current number (10) is better.

However, according to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, changing numbers could cost Shenault some money if he wants to do it this year. He’d have to buy out the existing inventory of jerseys with his old number, but could avoid having to pay a fee if he waited until next year and notified the league this year.

Shenault’s change this season could depend on if he has a large number of jerseys made with his current number. With young players making significantly less than the veterans, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Shenault stick with the No. 10 for 2021 to save himself some money as he plays on his rookie contract.