The Jaguars picked up the kind of injury update they badly needed on Friday: Eric Murray is back.
After missing last week with a concussion, the veteran safety cleared concussion protocol and returned to full participation in practice on Friday. That puts him on track to start next to Antonio Johnson when Jacksonville faces the Houston Texans in a key Week 6 AFC South matchup. Rayuan Lane filled that spot last week.
Murray had been limited on Wednesday and Thursday before the final step came Friday. His return matters for a Jaguars defense that already felt his absence, especially with Caleb Ransaw out in Week 4. Since signing in free agency last year, Murray has settled in as one of Jacksonville’s most important starters at safety and a steady voice in the back end.
“Eric means a lot to us. Eric is one of the guys you would kind of put him in a classification of he's a coach on the field," Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile said last week.
"He's just really good communicator, knows the ins and outs of the defense and can kind of see problems before they start on the field. He's been great that way all the way through, the entire season last season, the beginning of this season. He's been a big part of our success."
Jacksonville did not get a clean bill of health everywhere in the secondary, though. Cornerback Montaric Brown has been ruled out again because of a hamstring injury, his second absence in three weeks.
Brown left last week’s game against the Eagles after only six defensive snaps, and his absence leaves the Jaguars thinner at corner opposite Trabis Hunter. It also makes it less likely Jacksonville will use the same kind of cornerback rotation it had through the first three weeks.
The timing is hardly ideal with C.J. Stroud coming in without an interception this season. Jacksonville knows it has to be sharp if it wants to change that trend.
"I think that C.J.'s done a nice job of taking care of the football and that's just something that you just got to be aware of going into it. It's impacting him pre-snap, post-snap, being able to change the picture; it takes all 11 to be able to do that," Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said on Friday.
"We have to be more disciplined with our eyes in general as a defense and as a secondary. So, it's definitely not the week to start being greedy and saying, ‘man, I'm going to be the one to get one,’ because we're trying to be more disciplined with our eyes, especially in some of our man-match coverages.”
In Other News...
Jaguars Just Sent A Clear Message On Brian Thomas Jr
The Jaguars have made their stance on Brian Thomas Jr. pretty clear, even with other NFL teams showing interest in the young receiver. Despite a limited role in the offense this season, Jacksonville is not entertaining trade talks for Thomas, according to Jonathan Jones of The Athletic, and the move says plenty about how the team views his place in the long-term plan.
For a roster trying to position itself as a legitimate Super Bowl contender, keeping a player with Thomas upside matters more than dangling him for short-term help. The decision leaves the Jaguars choosing continuity over a possible market-driven move, and it suggests they see enough value in holding onto him even if his volume has not yet matched the outside attention. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Fans Will Notice A Different Broadcast Team In London
The Texans and Jaguars will take their matchup to Wembley Stadium in London for Week 6, giving the game a different kind of stage and a different kind of viewing experience for fans back home. It will also come with a fresh broadcast crew, as Bob Wischusen and Louis Riddick are set to handle the call for the international game.
For viewers used to hearing the same voices week after week, the change is a notable one, especially in a game that will air at 9:30 a.m. ET. It will be the first NFL broadcast of the season for both Wischusen and Riddick, adding another small wrinkle to a morning matchup that already stands apart on the league calendar. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Rookie Receiver Is Earning A Bigger Role For One Clear Reason
Josh Cameron has already done enough in his first five games to get Jacksonvilles coaching staff paying closer attention. The sixth-round pick has caught eight of 12 targets for 117 yards and two touchdowns, while also chipping in on special teams, and offensive coordinator Grant Udinski has been quick to point to more than just the box score. What has stood out is the rookies physical tools and the speed with which he has started to grasp the Jaguars offense.
For a young receiver, that kind of trust usually comes from handling the details, and Cameron has given the staff reason to believe he can do more than line up in one spot and run a simple route tree. Udinski has praised Camerons ability to learn multiple receiver positions and make the subtle route adjustments that depend on defensive coverage, which is often the difference between staying on the field and watching from the sideline. In a room where versatility matters, that understanding could be the clear path to a bigger role. [Read more 🡒]