The Jacksonville Jaguars are heading into Sunday’s Week 5 matchup in London with a real chance to stress a Philadelphia Eagles offense that suddenly looks thinner up front.
That shift became even more pronounced on Tuesday when All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson announced his retirement after a 14-year career. With Johnson out of the picture, Jacksonville’s defense has a clear place to aim its pressure.
Philadelphia’s likely replacement at right tackle is rookie Markel Bell, a big, gifted lineman with athletic traits, but one who had a rough outing last week against the Los Angeles Rams. According to Pro Football Focus, Bell allowed six pressures in the Eagles’ loss, the most on the team. Cam Jurgens gave up five pressures, while Drew Kendall allowed three.
Bell is not a lost cause. He showed promise as a run-blocker, and he had not been getting first-team reps before Sunday’s game. Still, the Jaguars may have found a vulnerable edge on an offensive line that is usually a strength, and there is also a chance Philadelphia could be without Jurgens this week.
That opens the door for Jacksonville’s pass rush to keep building on what it showed in Week 4. Against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Jaguars produced two sacks and 11 quarterback hits.
Arik Armstead stood out, and Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen were active as well. The three combined for 15 pressures, a strong sign heading into this matchup.
Walker and Hines-Allen are clearly Jacksonville’s top two pass-rushers, and the Jaguars have not been shy about lining both of them up against right tackles. Walker usually draws that assignment more often than Hines-Allen, but this could be the week to flip that balance and let Hines-Allen attack the cleaner matchup.
The plan for Jacksonville should be straightforward: send four, not more, and trust the front to win. The Jaguars have been at their best rushing four without blitzing, and that approach gives them a chance to put their best rushers on Bell while keeping seven defenders back to help disrupt Jalen Hurts.
That formula can work against a lot of teams. Against this Eagles group, it looks especially appealing.
The Jaguars enter Week 5 with momentum. With Johnson retired, their challenge is to use it the right way.
In Other News...
Jaguars Fans Just Landed Near The Top Of A Surprising NFL List
A Harvard study taking a look at the political leanings of NFL fan bases put Jacksonville in an interesting spot, with Jaguars fans ranking near the top of the league on the Republican side of the ledger. The research also found that this kind of split usually tracks with geography, which gives the results some added context beyond the football itself.
For Jaguars supporters, the finding is less about a game-day identity than a broader snapshot of the city and region around the team. The study also came with an especially notable contrast elsewhere around the league, as Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has said he stays away from endorsing political candidates and instead encourages voter registration and independent decision-making. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Fans Will Feel Mitch Morses Heartbreaking Family News
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For Jacksonville fans, it is one more reminder of how closely connected this league can be, even across opposing locker rooms. Morse has long been one of the more respected voices in the AFC, and the response to his announcement reflected the kind of support players often lean on in moments like this, when football fades into the background and family comes first. [Read more 🡒]
Liam Coens Viral Transformation Has Jaguars Fans Loving This Start
Liam Coens first season in Jacksonville has already given Jaguars fans plenty to feel good about, and the conversation around the head coach has extended beyond the sideline. After overhauling his diet and workout routine, with encouragement from Hall of Famer Tony Boselli, Coen has lost about 50 pounds, and the before-and-after photos that surfaced online quickly became a talking point among fans who are already enjoying the teams fast start.
The weight-loss buzz only adds to the broader momentum around a Jaguars team that finished 13-4 and captured the AFC South in Coens debut season. Jacksonville has also backed up the optimism with recent wins over the Bengals and Patriots, leaving the fan base focused on how far this run can go while Coens transformation continues to draw attention of its own. [Read more 🡒]