JACKSONVILLE – The offense is showing progress. The idea now is to maintain.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence spoke to the media Wednesday as the Jaguars prepared for their upcoming two-game stretch in London, discussing multiple areas offensively that have developed in recent weeks. Prominent among them:
A running game that has progressed as the season has continued.
"That's huge for any offense," Lawrence said as the Jaguars (1-4) prepared to play the Chicago Bears (3-2) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London Sunday.
Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. has rushed for 231 yards on 53 carries with two touchdowns this season, with running back Tank Bigsby emerging in the last two weeks as a consistent big-play back. Bigsby has rushed for 191 yards and two touchdowns in the last two games, with touchdown runs of 19 and 65 yards in a victory over the Indianapolis Colts this past Sunday.
"It has been very important," Etienne said. "I feel like that's been a bright spot for the team just week-in and week-out, just to go out there and have two guys whenever the second guy comes in there's no drop-off. I feel like that's just going to help to continue to elevate our offense."
Third running back D'Ernest Johnson has rushed for 39 yards on 10 carries with two receptions for nine yards this season.
"We have [three] guys that can really go right now that have been playing for us, and they all are different," Lawrence said. "They all do certain things really well, and they all can do it do it all whenever they're called upon. From that standpoint, it's great.
"When you have backs that can create those explosive plays as an offense, it's a huge threat. You're not having to get it all through the passing game or in or in chunks. It has been great to see them get going as the season has gone on."
The Jaguars, who entered the season focused on running more consistently, have rushed for at least 92 yards in all five games this season. The Jaguars rank 11th in the in rushing at 126.2 yards per game after ranking 24th at 96.8 yards per game last season.
"I feel like we have been running a little more and I feel like as long as we keep staying above the chains and keep moving the ball, I feel like that's when you're able to get more runs called," Etienne said.
Lawrence on Wednesday also discussed a Jaguars offensive line that has drawn praise in recent weeks not only for its run-blocking but for its improved protection. The last two games have been perhaps the best of the season for the unit, with Lawrence not being sacked or hit during the victory over the Colts.
"Those guys have done a nice job," Lawrence said. "Obviously Sunday was probably the cleanest pocket I've ever been a part of in the NFL. That doesn't happen much at all. You expect to deal with a little bit of chaos in the pocket, just the nature of the game, especially when you throw a lot. Not getting hit, not getting sacked, but not even getting hit the whole game. … when you have one of those games, you settle in, you feel it early, you feel the space.
"They've really done a good job the majority of the year. I've always trusted those guys and leaned on them."
NOTABLE WEEK 6 PRACTICE HIGHLIGHTS
- Jaguars tight end Evan Engram practiced limited Wednesday, with Head Coach Doug Pederson saying Monday Engram could return against the Bears Sunday. Engram has missed the last four games with a hamstring injury. "You don't want any setbacks," Pederson said of Engram. "You don't want anything to happen during the week. We'll limit his volume, ramp him up, give him what he needs and see how he is at the end of the week.
- Him being back is definitely a boost for the offense." Said wide receiver Christian Kirk of Engram, "I'm just really happy that he's going to be back over there. Just his presence in the middle of the field, short intermediate routes, it's going to be big for us and I know he's big for Trevor when it comes to just having that security."
- Also practicing limited for the Jaguars Wednesday: Safety Daniel Thomas (hamstring), wide receiver Gabe Davis (knee), linebacker Yasir Abdullah (neck), linebacker Devin Lloyd (knee), safety Darnell Savage (quadriceps) and Etienne (shoulder). Thomas, Abdullah and Savage missed the victory over the Colts, with Savage having missed the last four games.
