The Jaguars head into Week 4 with some real momentum after their Week 3 win over the New England Patriots, and a few names are trending in very different directions because of it.
Start with Josh Cameron, because the rookie receiver keeps forcing his way into the conversation. He’s tied with Denzel Boston for the most receiving touchdowns among all rookie wideouts, even though he was the 29th receiver drafted.
The volume has been modest so far, but Cameron has made his damage count in the red zone and has added value in the run game and on multiple special teams units. That’s the kind of production that gets attention fast.
Jarrian Jones is making an even louder case. By the numbers, he’s the best cornerback on the roster right now after picking off his first pass of the season Sunday and holding opponents to a sub-60.0 passer rating in coverage this year.
He’s been excellent outside of a few plays against the Denver Broncos, and he’s doing more than just covering - he’s giving Jacksonville useful snaps as a blitzer, against the run, and in the box in dime looks. The Patriots game was another strong one, and now the challenge gets bigger with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins coming next.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. is another Jaguar whose stock is climbing. Liam Coen has talked several times since Sunday about how encouraged he was by Rodriguez’s showing against New England, and the numbers back that up.
It was easily his best game with Jacksonville in EPA/Play, success rate, yards after contact, and more. He’s gaining traction, even if Bhayshul Tuten still looks like the top back.
For now, this is the version of the ground game the Jaguars have been trying to build.
Not every name is rising, though. Thomas barely saw the field in Week 3, and that creates two pretty clear readings: either he’s at best the third receiver in a 12 personnel-heavy offense, or Jacksonville is ready to hand more of those snaps to Cameron. Neither outcome is especially good for Thomas’ standing in the offense.
Wyatt Milum lands on the list for a different reason. The second-year lineman hasn’t done anything wrong, but he has only played 18 offensive snaps as a sixth lineman this season, and the bigger story is how well the guards in front of him played against New England. After Emmanuel Pregnon and Ezra Cleveland struggled against the Denver Broncos, that interior duo bounced back with a strong day against Christian Barmore and Milton Williams.
Then there’s Nate Boerkircher, who is clearly involved in the offense as Jacksonville leans more on 12 personnel. He ranks second among all tight ends with 89 total snaps, just four behind first-round pick Kenyon Sadiq of the New York Jets.
But the passing-game usage is still minimal. Boerkircher has been targeted only twice in three games, ranks No. 83 among tight ends in target rate according to NextGenStats, and his lone Week 3 target never really looked close to becoming a meaningful play.
He’s doing his job overall, but he’s not part of the aerial attack.
In Other News...
Brian Thomas Jr. Slump Just Created An Uncomfortable Jaguars Question
Brian Thomas Jr. has been part of the Jaguars long-term plan since arriving as a former first-round pick, but his recent production dip has invited outside curiosity in a way the team probably would rather avoid. NFL analyst Kristopher Knox recently floated the Steelers as a club that could benefit from adding Thomas to its passing game, a reminder that even young receivers with upside can become the subject of trade chatter when the numbers stop matching the pedigree.
For Jacksonville, the situation is less about any immediate intention to move him and more about how quickly a slump can turn into an uncomfortable question. The Jaguars have shown no interest in trading Thomas right now, but if his form keeps slipping, the conversation could get louder, especially with Pittsburgh already active at receiver this season after adding Michael Pittman Jr. and drafting Germie Bernard. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Rookies Are Forcing A Real Week 4 Depth Chart Shift
Through the first three weeks, the Jaguars rookie class has already started to leave a real imprint on the roster picture. Some first-year players, including Wesley Williams and Jalen Huskey, are still waiting for their first action, but others have forced their way into the conversation with meaningful reps on offense, defense and special teams. Bryan Thomas Jr. and Josh Cameron have been among the more noticeable contributors, giving Jacksonville something to think about as the season settles in.
Head coach Liam Coen also had to address the health of rookie Albert Regis, which adds another layer to a depth chart that is clearly still moving. For a team trying to find the right mix in the early part of the year, the rookie class is no longer just developmental background noise. The bigger question now is how much those performances will continue to push established options out of the way as Week 4 approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Suddenly Have A Secondary Concern Before Bengals Showdown
A week after trying to settle into the rhythm of the season, Jacksonville suddenly has a secondary question hanging over its preparation for Cincinnati. The Jaguars Week 4 injury report shows three of their five cornerbacks were either injured or limited in practice, a reminder that a position group built on depth can get thin in a hurry when the practice report starts piling up.
Jarrian Jones was a full participant despite a hip issue, while Christian Braswell worked on a limited basis with a knee injury and Montaric Brown was also limited because of a hamstring problem. Jacksonville also had several other names on the report, including LeQuint Allen, DaVon Hamilton, Jakobi Meyers, Albert Regis and Cole Van Lanen, leaving the team with some moving parts to monitor as the Bengals game approaches and the coaching staff continues to sort out availability. [Read more 🡒]