The Jaguars are heading into Week 4 with momentum and, at least on the injury front, a cleaner bill of health than the team they’ll see in Cincinnati.
Jacksonville improved to 2-1 with a statement win over the Patriots and now faces a Bengals team that’s also 2-1 but coming off a divisional loss. After Wednesday’s practice, the contrast in the two injury reports stood out: the Jaguars have a long list, but most of the names appear to be more about management than concern, while Cincinnati is dealing with some real uncertainty in the back end.
For Jacksonville, Meyers has been limited in every game this season as he continues to deal with the thumb injury he picked up in training camp. Van Lanen has also shown the same weekly pattern, remaining limited while working his way back from last year’s knee injury.
Hamilton and Brown are listed as limited as well, though those situations look more tied to snap-count control and maintenance. LeQuint Allen Jr., Christian Braswell, and Albert Regis were also limited, while Jarrian Jones was the only Jaguar to practice fully, which is encouraging for a secondary that will be tested by Cincinnati’s passing game.
The Bengals’ report carries more concern. Four players were out entirely, including starting right guard Dalton Risner, a development that could force changes up front.
But the bigger issue is at safety. Dugger did not practice, and starters Jordan Battle and Bryan Cook were both limited.
That leaves Cincinnati’s secondary in a shaky spot, and it’s an area Jacksonville should be ready to target if those absences and limitations carry into Sunday.
The picture could change by Friday, but for now the Jaguars look to be in better shape health-wise than the Bengals.
In Other News...
Titans Pressure Around Cam Ward Is Starting To Feel Different
The Titans early-season patience with Cam Ward is beginning to get a little more complicated, at least from the outside, as the offense continues to search for traction. The quarterback has been getting the kind of organizational backing that suggests Tennessee wants to let the process play out, even as the results have left plenty of room for questions about where this is headed and how long the margin for growth can last.
For the Jaguars, theres a familiar AFC South subplot in watching how divisional rivals handle their young quarterbacks and the pieces around them. Liam Coens explanation for Brian Thomas Jr.s limited Week 3 usage was a reminder that plans can look very different from game to game, and that the Jaguars are still trying to balance immediate results with long-term trust in one of their top playmakers. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Face A Week 4 Problem That Could Change Everything
Through three weeks, the Bengals have shown enough on defense to make opponents pay attention, and the attention in Jacksonville has to start up front. Cincinnatis offseason additions gave that defensive line more heft, and Anthony Cosenza of Cincy Jungle pointed to the strength there as a real factor heading into the matchup with the Jaguars. He also noted how the safety situation has been complicated by injuries, which makes the rest of the defense carry even more of the load.
For Jacksonville, the bigger question is how that front changes the script of the game and whether the Jaguars can keep their own offense on schedule against a group that is still settling into its identity. Cosenza also talked through what he has seen from Cincinnati so far and what he expects from the players in this one, while leaving little doubt that the defensive tone could shape how the game unfolds. There is still plenty to sort out, but the matchup already feels like one where the trenches will matter first. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Are Rising In The AFC But One Debate Is Just Starting
Through three weeks, the AFC race already has a familiar feel at the top, with Kansas City setting the pace, Buffalo right behind it and Jacksonville hanging in the same early conversation. The Jaguars have earned that place by matching up well with what matters most this time of year: enough stability on offense, enough speed to change a game quickly and enough coaching structure to keep winning games from getting away from them.
The interesting part for Jacksonville is not where it sits today, but how long it can stay there once the schedule starts asking tougher questions. Buffalos push has already added some heat to that discussion, and Pittsburgh is lurking as another division leader with its own case to make, which means the Jaguars are no longer just trying to prove they belong in the AFCs upper tier. They are trying to show they can hold that spot when the league starts sorting contenders from the rest. [Read more 🡒]