JACKSONVILLE – The BTJ buzz is getting louder.
And if the Jaguars' quiet rookie receiver says comparatively little about his early-season success, Brian Thomas Jr.has drawn high praise from teammates and coaches.
Particularly noteworthy in that group: Trevor Lawrence, Evan Engram and Christian Kirk.
"No moment's too big for him," Lawrence said.
Thomas Jr., a wide receiver selected by the Jaguars No. 23 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, caught four passes for 47 yards and a touchdown in a Week 1 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Lawrence, the Jaguars' starting quarterback, discussed Thomas when speaking to the media Wednesday as the Jaguars prepared to play the Cleveland Browns at EverBank Stadium Sunday.
"He's a gamer, and just shows up ready to play every time he goes out there," Lawrence said."That's exciting to see as a quarterback, just some of the plays he made. He doesn't seem like a rookie at all. He has that quiet confidence about him."
Engram, a Pro Bowl tight end, said he spoke with Thomas Wednesday about his importance to the offense.
"It's a huge spark for our team," Engram said. "I told him today: 'You might be a rookie. You might be quiet. But that energy you have on Sunday, the confidence we say come out of you, that's going to help our team. We see it. We feel it.'
"Whatever he's been doing, he needs to keep doing it. He has a bright future ahead. It's only his first game. He's going to continue to learn. He's going to get better. He's going to get more accustomed to the game, to our offense.
"I can't wait to play alongside him the rest of the season and just watch him grow."
Thomas in his NFL regular-season debut caught all four passes on which he was targeted Sunday. He also drew a 40-yard first-quarter interference penalty on Dolphins All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey to set up a one-yard touchdown run by running back Travis Etienne Jr.on the ensuing play.
Kirk said Thomas’ Week 1 performance and steady development "means a lot" to an offense that features multiple experienced receivers such as Kirk, Engram and veteran free-agent signee Gabe Davis. The veteran wide receiver on Wednesday lauded Thomas' explosive ability to stretch the field and separate at the top of routes.
"As the season goes on, he'll be asked to do more," Kirk said. "For a young guy to go out there and make the plays he did, I thought he played with a very calm demeanor and also some energy.A lot of people, including us, loved to see him get a little emotional during the game. That was good. It kind of set the tone.
"Each week he's going to keep getting better."
Lawrence said the Dolphins began covering Thomas differently with more attention as the game continued.
"Obviously they had a lot of respect for him," Lawrence said. "Moving forward, it sort of changes how you cover a guy like that the rest of the game when that happens early. That's only going to help us."
Lawrence, like many of his teammates, liked Thomas interacting with Ramsey following the interference penalty. Engram on Monday said Thomas doing so pleasantly surprised him, and Lawrence on Wednesday agreed.
"That was pretty cool," Lawrence said. "That got us all juiced and amped up. To see that competitive fire come out is awesome to see out of anybody, but especially a young guy like that with the confidence he has. You haven't seen as much of that, but that came out when the lights came on. I love seeing that. That's half the battle of this sport. It was cool to see that come out."
"We know what he can be and what he's becoming already. He's a quieter guy, kind of unassuming. and then he goes out there and just balls out and he'll talk a little trash. Some of that stuff's a little unexpected. So, you get excited seeing that.
"I like the way he carries himself. He's always like this. He just never flinches. I think he's awesome."
Added Kirk, "I just think he's confident. That's a big thing, especially for a young receiver – just to have that confidence. That's definitely something he never has lacked. But it's good to see him out there and see him play with that emotion and kind of ooze that confidence."
