The Patriots’ passing game is searching for answers, and Sunday’s matchup with Jacksonville puts that issue front and center.
New England has already had to adjust without A.J. Brown, the receiver brought in to be Drake Maye’s clear top option.
Brown’s high-ankle sprain has changed the shape of the offense, and through the first two weeks the Patriots have not looked like the same unit they were last year. Maye has spread the ball around, but the absence of a true No. 1 has been impossible to miss.
That’s what makes this trip into a showdown with the Jaguars’ wide receiver group so interesting. Jacksonville’s passing attack has been rolling for the most part, even with last week’s late collapse against Denver ending in just 13 points. The Jaguars have leaned heavily on Trevor Lawrence throwing the ball, and the results have been strong enough to put their wideouts in the spotlight.
Parker Washington has been one of the early standouts. In Jacksonville’s Week 1 blowout of Cleveland, Lawrence kept finding him, and Washington kept delivering.
The former sixth-round pick out of Penn State, who was once second on the depth chart behind Jahan Dotson until his junior year, has turned into a real weapon. It took until his third NFL season to fully show what he could do, but he led the Jaguars in receiving yards last year with 847.
Now he’s off to a fast start again, with 12 catches for 181 yards and a touchdown through two games. Christian Gonzalez should be the one tasked with slowing him down Sunday.
Brian Thomas Jr. is still part of the conversation, even if his production has not matched the massive rookie season he put together in 2024. Last year, Thomas Jr. was one of the most productive first-year receivers the league has ever seen, piling up 1,282 yards, 87 catches and 10 touchdowns.
That made him the fourth rookie in NFL history to hit at least 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns, joining Randy Moss, Odell Beckham Jr. and Ja’Marr Chase. This season has been quieter.
He has 704 yards on 48 catches and two touchdowns in 2025, and drops were a problem last year - his 10 dropped passes tied for second-most in the NFL. Even so, Lawrence still looked his way nine times against Denver.
The Patriots also have to deal with a familiar name in Jakobi Meyers. The 29-year-old began his NFL career with New England as an undrafted rookie out of N.C.
State in 2019, and he spent four seasons there before moving on. He finished his Patriots run with 2,758 yards, including 359 from Tom Brady during his rookie year.
Meyers later signed with the Raiders in the 2023 offseason and was traded to Jacksonville at last season’s deadline. He has produced in his role for the Jaguars in 2025, but he has only three catches for 68 yards so far.
Noah Cameron and Travis Hunter could also see the field for Jacksonville, though both have mostly been used as package players.
On the other side, the Patriots need more from the group around Maye. Romeo Doubs was a bright spot after a rough Week 1, bouncing back with 96 yards on just three catches against Pittsburgh. Maye and Doubs were especially efficient together, and it will be worth watching whether that connection grows now that Brown is out.
Mack Hollins has been one of Maye’s most dependable options through two games. He led the team with 51 receiving yards against Seattle and came up with key catches late in the fourth quarter. He is not an every-down receiver, but he has given the Patriots value in the biggest moments and has helped as a blocker in the run game.
DeMario Douglas entered the year with plenty of buzz as the slot receiver, and Kyle Williams was also expected to play an important role. Neither has consistently made his presence felt yet, but the opportunity is there now with Brown sidelined.
Jacksonville gave up 288 passing yards to Bo Nix and the Broncos last week, and Jaylen Waddle went for 138 yards against them as well. That leaves the door open for Douglas and Williams to make a real impact.
For New England, the passing game needs to become more than a side note. For Jacksonville, it’s already been a major driver. Sunday gives the Patriots a chance to narrow that gap and quiet some of the concern around their offense.
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