The Jaguars are banking on Brian Thomas Jr. finding his groove again, and Trevor Lawrence says the early signs this offseason have been encouraging.
That matters because Thomas’ second NFL season was a sharp step back. After piling up almost 1,300 yards as a rookie, he finished 2025 with 707 receiving yards and battled dropped passes along the way. The slide got so noticeable that trade rumors started to swirl, even though head coach Liam Coen kept shooting them down.
Now the conversation has shifted to what Thomas looks like heading into training camp. Reports from the offseason have pointed to progress, and Lawrence backed that up with a detailed look at how Thomas has been working.
"The steps he's taking this offseason, and some of the routes that he's ran that haven't just been verticals, have been impressive, and the way I've seen him work on his craft and get better every year, I'm super excited for this year for him," Lawrence said. "I think he's gonna have an awesome year.
Our chemistry has grown a ton, but his speed is, that's where it all starts, because if you're a corner, that's the threat every time he runs off the ball. You don't know where he's gonna go, and if he keeps running straight, you're not gonna catch him."
That connection between quarterback and receiver has been a clear focus, and Lawrence said it’s grown a lot. Thomas also stood out during minicamp and OTAs, showing more than just the straight-line speed that made him such a dangerous rookie.
Lawrence said Thomas’ speed and agility can get overlooked, but those traits are a big part of what makes him so hard to defend. Corners have to respect the vertical threat first, and that opens the door for Thomas to break off routes underneath or toward the sideline. As his route tree becomes less predictable, defenders can’t just bail out and sit on the deep ball.
And if Thomas keeps forcing that kind of attention, it should create room for the rest of Jacksonville’s receivers to work. When a defense is occupied with him, somebody else can slip free and make a play.
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Johnson is also entering the final year of his rookie deal, which adds another layer to camp beyond the usual competition for snaps. The Jaguars have reason to see him as more than just a useful depth piece now, but the next step is proving he can hold that spot when the pads come on and the pressure rises. [Read more 🡒]