The Jacksonville Jaguars are in no mood to wait around.
At 5-2, they’re starting to pull away in the AFC South, and the bigger picture is obvious: this is a team with a real Super Bowl window in 2026. Jacksonville hasn’t won a playoff game since the 2022 season, when it beat the Los Angeles Chargers 31-30 in the AFC Wild Card Round, and it hasn’t reached the AFC Championship Game since 2017. This group looks determined to push harder now.
That urgency has sparked talk of a major trade, and the names being floated are eye-opening.
A new report says the Jaguars are trying to work something out with the Philadelphia Eagles, with defensive tackle Jalen Carter and Panthers defensive lineman Derrick Brown mentioned in the discussion. The Eagles, meanwhile, are 2-6 and have dropped six straight, leaving them at the bottom of the NFC East while dealing with life without Jalen Hurts. With Hurts’ future clouded by his blood clots, Philadelphia could be headed toward seller territory at the deadline.
Brown would bring a different kind of profile. The Panthers may be in first place, but they’re still below .500, and the idea is that extra draft capital could help them. Brown has played in seven games and has posted 21 total tackles, five passes defended, and no sacks.
Carter is the bigger swing. Philadelphia signed him to a record-breaking four-year, $152 million extension before the season, and he has been productive through seven games with 23 total tackles, four sacks, 5.5 stuffs, three forced fumbles, and three pass defenses.
If Jacksonville somehow lands either one, the rest of the AFC might want to start paying very close attention.
In Other News...
Panthers Need Jaycee Horn Now More Than Ever
Jaycee Horn has been on the sideline far too much this season, with injuries limiting the Panthers cornerback to just three games, but Carolina is finally expecting him back soon. The timing matters. The Panthers are heading into a matchup with the Broncos, and getting Horn back into the secondary would give a defense that has missed his presence a much-needed boost.
Patrick Surtains public praise only adds to the intrigue around Horns return, with the Denver corner calling him one of the leagues top players at the position. For Carolina, it is the kind of recognition that underscores what Horn can mean when he is available, and why his return could reshape how the Panthers approach a tough test on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers May Finally Shake Up The Line In Front Of Bryce Young
The protection in front of Bryce Young has become hard to ignore, and Dave Canales is now openly signaling that the Panthers are weighing changes up front. Carolina has been getting beat at multiple spots along the offensive line, a problem that has left Young facing constant pressure and made the offense far more difficult to sustain.
One possible answer is Brady Christensen, who was designated to return from a hamstring injury and has taken part fully in recent practices. The sixth-year veteran could be nearing his regular-season debut, giving Carolina a chance to shuffle the line and see whether a healthier option can steady a group that has struggled to keep Young clean. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Put James Pearce Jr. In A Role Fans Have Wanted
The Falcons are making a notable shift with James Pearce Jr., and it is the kind of usage fans have been waiting to see. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said the edge rusher is expected to start in a primary pass-rush role, though the team will keep him on a pitch count as it eases him back into the defense.
For Carolina, it is another reminder of how quickly the division can change around the edges, especially with interim defensive coordinator Todd Wash still sorting through strategy, personnel usage and staff adjustments after the departure of linebackers coach Mayur Chaudhari. Around the NFC South, the Saints also made a coaching change ahead of Week 9, firing run game coordinator T.J. Paganetti as Kellen Moore looks to streamline the operation, with guard David Edwards pointing to the offensive lines part in that decision. [Read more 🡒]