Tag: NFL football

Benches clear in Jaguars vs. Texans after big hit on Trevor Lawrence

Benches clear in Jaguars vs. Texans after big hit on Trevor Lawrence

The Jaguars and Texans’ benches cleared after Houston linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair laid a huge hit on Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence as he slid to conclude a six-yard run in the second quarter, leading to an extended skirmish between the teams.

Lawrence was ruled out of the game with a concussion by the Jaguars just before halftime.

Jacksonville tight end Evan Engram flew in to defend Lawrence and take on Al-Shaair after the tackle, resulting in a mass of Jaguars and Texans fighting and arguing while Lawrence was attended to by medical staff. He was eventually carted off the field.

Al-Shaair, Engram and Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones received personal foul penalties for their conduct, which offset. Al-Shaair and Jones were ejected from the game.

Al-Shaair continued to mouth off at Jaguars players, including left guard Brandon Scherff and wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., as he was escorted off the field, prolonging the scuffle as players from both teams swarmed to diffuse the situation.

Sunday marked Lawrence’s return to play after missing Jacksonville’s last two games with an AC joint sprain in his left, non-throwing shoulder.

Mac Jones took over at quarterback for the Jaguars with Lawrence ruled out.

This is a breaking news story that will be updated. 

Jaguars vs. Texans: Inactive lists

Jaguars vs. Texans: Inactive lists

Find Jacksonville and Houston’s inactive lists for Week 13 below.

Jaguars inactives

  • QB C.J. Beathard (emergency third quarterback)
  • RB D’Ernest Johnson
  • OL Javon Foster
  • DT Esezo Otomewo
  • DT Jordan Jefferson
  • LB Yasir Abdullah

Analysis: Only linebacker Yasir Abdullah was ruled out on Jacksonville’s Friday injury report, making the Jaguars’ other inactive healthy scratches.

Deemed questionable on Friday, starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence will officially return to play for the Jaguars this week after missing their last two games with a left, non-throwing shoulder injury, which he suffered against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 9.

The Jaguars notably made rotational running back D’Ernest Johnson inactive, after activating rookie running back Keilan Robinson from their injured reserve last week.

Texans inactives

  • WR Xavier Hutchinson
  • WR Steven Sims
  • OG Nick Broeker
  • DE Jerry Hughes
  • DT Folorunso Fatukasi
  • LB Jamal Hill
  • S Jalen Pitre

Analysis: The Texans ruled starting defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi and safety Jalen Pitre out of Week 13 due to injury on Friday. Backup wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson will miss the game after being labeled questionable on Houston’s final injury report.

Report: Baalke ‘heavily involved’ in Walker Little’s Jaguars extension

Report: Baalke ‘heavily involved’ in Walker Little’s Jaguars extension

Walker Little’s three-year, $45 million, Sunday morning contract extension with the Jaguars could point to more than just his future being in Jacksonville.

Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke was “heavily involved” in the makings of Little’s new deal, despite reporting and speculation suggesting Baalke and head coach Doug Pederson’s time in Jacksonville could be nearing its end amid the team’s 2-9 season.

Schefter added that Little’s deal gave an anonymous executive of another NFL team the impression that Baalke believes his job with the Jaguars is safe.

Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke was heavily involved in the negotiations, trying to solidify Jacksonville’s future. Questions and speculation have swirled for weeks about the future of Baalke and head coach Doug Pederson. Along with preparing for the game Sunday, Baalke also is making long-term decisions that will impact the future of the franchise.

One executive from another team said Little’s deal is a sign that Baalke is planning to stick with the Jaguars, despite all the uncertainty that has surrounded the team.

Before Jacksonville’s Week 11, 52-6 loss to the Detroit Lions, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that the Jaguars “might be looking at another regime change for 2025, and sources say a dramatic move could come as soon as this week, pending the results of Sunday’s game against the Lions.”

While Jacksonville suffered the worst loss in franchise history shortly following Rapoport’s report, a dramatic move never came.

Meaning, at least for now, Baalke continues to make the personnel decisions for the Jaguars, including Little’s contract extension.

Jaguars confirm deal for ‘homegrown talent’ Walker Little

Jaguars confirm deal for ‘homegrown talent’ Walker Little

The Jaguars announced offensive tackle Walker Little’s contract extension with the club hours before Jacksonville’s Week 13 home matchup with the Houston Texans on Sunday.

Little reportedly received a three-year, $45 million deal, including $26 million in guaranteed money, per ESPN.

“Walker is a homegrown talent who has grown up in our system,” Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement. “Time and time again, Walker stepped in when needed, and stepped up his game at the tackle position.

“This is a great opportunity for a young player that we see every day on the practice field, who we believe will be playing his best football in the coming years.”

Jacksonville’s second-round, No. 45 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, Little took over as the Jaguars’ starting left tackle in Week 8 in favor of seven-year starter Cam Robinson. Robinson was traded to the Minnesota Vikings the following week.

Before earning his first-team role, Little operated as Jacksonville’s swing offensive tackle for three seasons and made three starts at left guard in 2023.

Little has made 21 starts over 51 career appearances with the Jaguars.

Jaguars extend OT Walker Little on three-year, $45 million deal

Jaguars extend OT Walker Little on three-year, $45 million deal

This story has been updated to include new information.

The Jaguars and starting left tackle Walker Little agreed to a three-year, $45 million contract extension hours before Jacksonville’s Week 13 home matchup with the Houston Texans, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Little’s new deal with the Jaguars includes $26 million in guarantees and runs through the 2027 season.

Little, the Jaguars’ No. 45 overall selection in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft, took over as Jacksonville’s starting left tackle in Week 8 in favor of seven-year starter Cam Robinson, who was traded to the Minnesota Vikings the next week.

“Excited for Walker. He’s a guy that’s continued to do everything we’ve asked of him, be selfless, put the team first. So, excited for that,{” Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor said about Little on Oct. 31. “We know Walker will step into it and do a good job.”

Pro Football Focus credits Little for allowing one sack and six quarterback pressures over 134 pass-blocking snaps since securing the first-team role. He has earned a 72.3 out of 1100 run-blocking grade from PFF this season.

Little operated as Jacksonville’s swing backup offensive tackle over his first three seasons with the Jaguars and started three games at left guard during the 2023 campaign.

Little has made 21 starts over 51 career appearances since entering the NFL.

Little is the third member of Jacksonville’s 2021 draft class to receive a n extension with the club. Quarterback and No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence signed a five-year, $275 million contract with the Jaguars in June; cornerback and No. 33 overall pick Tyson Campbell inked a four-year, $76 million deal in July.

The Jaguars also picked up running back and No. 25 overall pick Travis Etienne Jr.’s fifth-year option for the 2025 season in April.

Etienne, Bigsby ‘real healthy’ as Jaguars look to spark run game

Etienne, Bigsby ‘real healthy’ as Jaguars look to spark run game

One of Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson’s takeaways from assessing the 2-9 Jaguars during their bye week was that the team needs to get its rushing attack going again.

The Jaguars averaged the second-most yards per rushing attempt, 5.7, in the NFL through Week 4. Their 126.3 rushing yards per game stood at a respectable No. 13.

But starting running back Travis Etienne Jr. suffered a shoulder injury in Week 4, and eventually dealt with a hamstring injury that limited his usage through Week 9.

Etienne’s rushing counterpart, Tank Bigsby, appeared on Jacksonville’s injury report with a hurt ankle in Week 9. He aggravated the injury in Week 10 and did not play in Week 11.

Both Etienne and Bigsby are beyond their injuries following Jacksonville’s bye week, Pederson said Friday, offering the head coach encouragement as he attempts to reignite the Jaguars’ ground game.

“Both guys are real healthy, which is great,” Pederson said Friday.

“There was some — the inconsistency of one guy up and one guy banged up and then kind of flipped and just getting that continuity in that room. But it’s good to have both guys where they are right now. It does give us a lift health-wise in that room and obviously can give us a boost in the run game.”

As a result of Etienne and Bigsby’s limitations, at least in part, the Jaguars now rank No. 11 and No. 25 in the above categories, respectively. They have averaged 4.5 yards per run and 101.6 rushing yards per game through 11 games.

However, Pederson believes it will take more than a healthy running back room to spark Jacksonville’s rushing offense. He pointed to the Jaguars’ need for better blocking at every position and for their quarterback, likely Trevor Lawrence this week, to audible the unit into potentially advantageous run plays.

“That’s something that we have to do better as an offense. We have to run the ball better,” Pederson said Wednesday.

“It’s not just the running backs, it’s all 11 [players], right? It’s the quarterback putting us in the right run if we have run checks. It’s obviously the offensive line, the tight ends, and we know the running backs. So that’s an area that we’ve got to improve, but having two healthy running backs right now definitely helps that.”

Jacksonville will face an average Houston rushing defense on Sunday. The Texans allow 110.8 rushing yards per game, which ranks No. 11 in the NFL, and 4.4 yards per carry, ranking No. 20.

Jaguars elevate practice squad WR for Week 13

Jaguars elevate practice squad WR for Week 13

The Jacksonville Jaguars promoted wide receiver Elijah Cooks from their practice squad via standard elevation for their Week 13 matchup with the Houston Texans, the club announced on Saturday.

Cooks will be active for the second time this season. He logged three offensive snaps in Jacksonville’s Week 9, 28-23 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

A second-year pro, Cooks signed with the Jaguars as an undrafted free agent out of San Jose State following the 2023 NFL draft and made Jacksonville’s 53-player roster for his rookie season. He caught three passes for 38 yards in nine appearances.

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson named Cooks among the potential replacements for starting wide receiver Gabe Davis, who suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Detroit Lions in Week 11, in Jacksonville’s offense moving forward.

Parker Washington, Devin Duvernay and Tim Jones, members of Jacksonville’s active roster, could also see their utilization increase with Davis sidelined.

“Yeah, Parker takes a big step forward, obviously. It’s a big role for him. Devin Duvernay increased his role, but we’ve got Elijah Cooks, Joshua Cephus, Austin Trammell’s been elevated [from the practice squad] a couple of times,” Pederson said Friday. “Any of those guys can step up. Tim Jones can obviously increase his role a little bit more offensively.”

Jacksonville vs. Houston is scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, at EverBank Stadium.

Jaguars vs. Texans: Final injury reports, game statuses

Jaguars vs. Texans: Final injury reports, game statuses

The Jaguars are the healthiest they have been since nearly the beginning of the season, at least from a practice participation perspective, following their Week 12 bye and entering their Week 13, AFC South showdown with the Houston Texans in Jacksonville.

Find Jacksonville and Houston’s final injury reports and initial game statuses for Week 13 below.

* indicates status upgrade from the previous practice

Jaguars injury report

  • RB Tank Bigsby (ankle) — full
  • OL Brandon Scherff (knee/shoulder) — full
  • QB Trevor Lawrence (left shoulder) — limited
  • CB Tyson Campbell (shoulder) — limited
  • LB Yasir Abdullah (hamstring) — did not participate

Jaguars game statuses

  • QB Trevor Lawrence: QUESTIONABLE
  • LB Yasir Abdullah: OUT

Analysis: While he is considered questionable to play against Houston, Jacksonville starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence is expected to play in Week 13, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson revealed on Friday.

The Jaguars will be without backup linebacker Yasir Abdullah for a second consecutive game. He was a late addition to Jacksonville’s injury report in Week 11 after hurting his hamstring.

Texans injury report

Who could step up in place of Jaguars WR Gabe Davis?

Who could step up in place of Jaguars WR Gabe Davis?

The Jaguars are now without two starting wide receivers for the rest of the 2024 season.

After losing slot receiver Christian Kirk to a collarbone injury in Week 8, Jacksonville placed outside pass-catcher Gabe Davis on its injured reserve during its Week 12 bye with a reported meniscus tear.

Davis, who signed a three-year, $39 million free-agent contract with Jacksonville in March, finished the campaign with 20 receptions for 239 yards and two touchdowns.

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson on Friday identified potential candidates to replace Davis in Jacksonville’s offense moving forward, including Parker Washington, Devin Duvernay and Tim Jones among active roster members and Elijah Cooks, Joshua Cephus and Austin Trammell from the team’s practice squad.

Washington, in particular, could see his usage increase further. He has averaged nearly 35 offensive snaps per game since Week 8, largely due to Kirk’s absence, after logging almost 15 per game over the first seven matchups of the season.

“Yeah, Parker takes a big step forward, obviously. It’s a big role for him,” Pederson said.

“Devin Duvernay increased his role, but we’ve got Elijah Cooks, Joshua Cephus, Austin Trammell’s been elevated [from the practice squad] a couple of times. Any of those guys can step up. Tim Jones can obviously increase his role a little bit more offensively. But really Parker’s the guy that kind of steps into that role.”

Washington has 10 receptions for 118 yards this season, his second with the Jaguars since Jacksonville selected him at No. 185 overall in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft. He caught 16 passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie.

Washington has also returned six points for 24 yards on average this year, including a 96-yard touchdown against the New England Patriots in Week 7.

Pederson expressed confidence in Washington’s development with the Jaguars this season and his ability to step into the starting lineup based on his previous experience doing so.

“I’ve seen a lot. His growth, maturity, understanding what we are asking of him, what he can do within the system. He and [Jaguars quarterback] Trevor [Lawrence] being on the same page. Just the growth. The growth that he’s made.” Pederson explained.

“This’ll be a great opportunity, much like the end of last season where he stepped up big in Christian’s absence, he’s got to do it again. That’s part of being a backup. He doesn’t — and I can understand this — think of himself as a backup, which is great. I can understand that, but now he gets an opportunity to be the guy. So, a lot of confidence in him and a lot of trust in him.”

Duvernay, Jones and Trammell have combined for five receptions and 69 yards this season. Cooks caught three passes for 38 yards as a rookie in 2023 but has yet to log a statistic this season. Cephus, an undrafted rookie, has yet to appear in a game with Jacksonville.

NFL Black Friday schedule: What games are on TV today?

Here’s what you can watch on Black Friday among the Week 13 schedule.

The NFL is starting a new trend this holiday season by giving fans an extra game on Friday afternoon.

Each year, the Thanksgiving festivities begin with food, thanks and joy around the family. Then, everyone says, “forget that,” to watch three football games leading deep into the evening just in time for dessert.

The Detroit Lions survived a scare with the Chicago Bears at Ford Field because of what had to be the worst clock management moment in NFL history. That final drive eventually cost third-year coach Matt Eberflus his job in a 23-20 loss.

The Dallas Cowboys secured bragging rights over the New York Giants behind a 110-yard outing from running back Rico Dowdle. The Giants remain in the hunt for the No. 1 overall pick, while Dallas improved to 5-7 and entered the chat for a potential nine-win season.

Thanksgiving Day wrapped up with the Green Bay Packers improving to 9-3 with a double-digit win over the Miami Dolphins. Jordan Love tossed two touchdown passes while the Phins froze in the first half and couldn’t overcome a three-touchdown lead in the second half.

But “Black Friday” will offer one more matchup with significant AFC Playoff implications on the line as the Kansas City Chiefs (10-1) host the Las Vegas Raiders (2-9) at 2:00 p.m. The Chiefs-Raiders game will be available to stream exclusively on Prime.

Kansas City, which hosts the Houston Texans in Week 16, could clinch a playoff spot with the help of several others over the weekend with a victory at Arrowhead.