Parker Washington isn’t pretending the contract talk isn’t there. He’s just not letting it get in the way of the job in front of him.
The Jaguars wideout has noticed what receivers around the league are getting paid, and he knows his turn could be coming. But with this season underway, Washington made it clear his attention is fixed on Trevor Lawrence and on producing when the ball comes his way.
“That’s not my focus. I mean yes, it’s there and it’s a conversation, but my focus is just coming out here and I need to make plays for Trevor.
So that’s my mindset, and that’s how I’m going to attack it. I’m not going to step on my agent’s toes.
They can have those conversations. I’m just going to come out here and do my job.
“I mean, I be excited for guys. And like I said, the receiver market is a little crazy.
And you see guys getting their opportunities and getting paid,” Washington said. “I mean, that’s cool.
But like I said, for me, I just want to go out here and be my best self and just attack it.”
The timing is impossible to miss. Washington is in the final year of his contract, and after becoming Lawrence’s top target last season, he’s positioned himself for a bigger payday.
He was one of the best finds from ex-general manager Trent Baalke, a sixth-round pick who barely played as a rookie in 2023, then started seven games in his second season before breaking out in his third. Last year, he became Lawrence’s No. 1 option and posted a career year.
The numbers tell the story. Washington had 58 catches for 847 yards and five touchdowns last season, while Baltimore’s Zay Flowers just landed a four-year, $140 million extension after putting up 86 catches for 1,211 yards and five touchdowns.
Flowers started 17 games; Washington started seven. Still, Washington’s production has climbed every year, nearly doubling each season: 16 catches to 32 to 58, 132 yards to 390 to 847.
On the field Thursday, Lawrence and Washington looked more in sync again after a few practices where the connection had been a little off. Lawrence finished 12 for 14, and Washington was part of a cleaner day overall for the offense.
The rest of the quarterback work was less sharp. Nick Mullens went 3 for 9, Carter Bradley was 0 for 1, and Joey Aguilar was 3 for 5 with an interception thrown to Preston Hodge.
The Jaguars also mixed in work for several backs. Bhayshul Tuten had two carries, both with Lawrence.
Chris Rodriguez had four carries, all with Lawrence. LeQuint Allen also worked with Lawrence on both of his carries.
Ameer Abdullah had three carries with Mullens, DeeJay Dallas had four with Mullens, and J’Mari Taylor handled five carries split between Mullens, Bradley and Aguilar.
There was one notable injury note from practice: Emmanuel Pregnon left with the trainers and did not return.
A few other names kept flashing around the field. Anton Harrison said playing left tackle is “like riding a bike.”
He also said he changed his diet, trimmed some of the “baby fat” this offseason and feels better than he has heading into a season. The staff may keep calling it a competition, but Harrison looks set to be Jacksonville’s left tackle this year.
Zach Durfee continued to stand out. He beat Walker Little with a nasty move that would have got to Lawrence cleanly, and he keeps showing up day after day.
He was one of the players special teams coordinator Heath Farwell singled out as pushing hard for opportunity, along with Josh Cameron and Bryan Thomas Jr. That mention matters for Bryan Thomas Jr., who hasn’t been a major talking point but could carve out a role by making noise on special teams.
Farwell also said Washington wants to be the Jaguars’ punt returner.
Cameron keeps making his case too. Farwell said he’s in the mix to be one of the Jaguars’ kick returners, and he backed that up with another strong catch on the field Thursday. He’s been steady throughout camp and looks like a roster lock with real upside.
There were a few more defensive flashes. Jalen Huskey dropped an interception, which fits his college reputation for getting his hands on the football.
Antonio Johnson was everywhere, and the staff clearly values what he brings; he could be one of the most important players on the defense because nobody else does quite what he does. Jabar Muhammad had a clean pass breakup against Brian Thomas Jr.
And then there was CJ Williams, who had the play of the day sitting there for him on a deep route before he couldn’t bring it in. Jarrian Jones was in coverage, though it wasn’t clear whether he got a hand on the ball or Williams simply let it go. Chris Rodriguez also showed off some sharp footwork, another sign he’s making things interesting in a crowded backfield.
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The Jaguars shorter practice Thursday offered a little more clarity on an offense that has been sorting through plenty of moving parts in camp. Trevor Lawrence was sharper with his accuracy, which is the sort of encouraging sign Jacksonville wants to see as the quarterback settles into the offense, while Chris Rodriguez Jr. continued to make his case in short-yardage work. The coaching staff also kept mixing and matching along the offensive line, especially on the right side, where jobs are still being sorted out.
Ventrell Miller added a defensive highlight by forcing and recovering a fumble, but the more interesting takeaway for Jacksonville may be how the offense is starting to answer a few important questions. Camp has a way of turning competition into clues, and the Jaguars are still balancing line combinations with the need for a reliable power option near the goal line. For now, Thursday felt like one of those practices where the shape of the offense is coming into focus, even if the final picture is not there yet. [Read more 🡒]
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The pressure is no lighter on defense, where Jalen McLeod, Yasir Abdullah and Parker Hughes are all in the mix at linebacker, and the staff still has room to sort out how it wants to trim the depth chart. Jacksonville has more practices and preseason games left to sort through those calls, but early camp has already made clear that a few of these competitions could come down to the wire. [Read more 🡒]