The Jaguars are heading into Sunday’s AFC South matchup with Tennessee without two of their newest defensive additions, and fans wasted no time turning the situation into a joke at the Titans’ expense.
Jacksonville coach Liam Coen said Friday that Jordan Davis and Jessie Bates will both sit out against the Titans. Both players arrived in separate trades this week, and Coen said the decision was tied to player safety and the schedule. Jacksonville dealt a 2027 first-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick to the Eagles for Davis, while the Falcons got a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick for Bates.
The timing matters here. Davis and Bates have each played nine games, but the Eagles and Falcons have not had their byes yet.
Jacksonville, meanwhile, already had its Week 7 rest. Coen said the extra time would help the newcomers settle in, adding, “Also, learn the system, and just give those guys a week to be able to do that.”
One new face will be available. Defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, who came over from the Saints for a conditional sixth-round pick, is set to play.
The fan reaction leaned straight into the humor of it all. “Called them boys a “Bye week” I’m in actual tears bro this beyond disrespectful,” one fan wrote. Another said, “Gotta respect the GM and HC for giving them a legitimate break to get properly acclimated and some recovery time,” while someone else posted, “Imagine being a Titans fan just seeing your team openly called a free bye week,” and another added, “Titans is an extra bye week.”
Jacksonville enters the game at 6-2 and leading the AFC South, while Tennessee is 1-7. Davis and Bates are expected to make their Jaguars debuts in Week 11 at the Giants.
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The supporting cast has helped make that leap possible, with Bhayshul Tuten giving the ground game another dimension, Travis Hunter making his presence felt in the secondary and Emmanuel Pregnon steadying things up front. Still, the conversation around Jacksonville keeps circling back to Lawrence, because a strong first half only matters if the quarterback can keep driving it. For the Jaguars, the next stretch will say plenty about whether this surge is a hot start or the beginning of something bigger. [Read more 🡒]