JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser, senior correspondent Brian Sexton and team reporter Kainani Stevens offer quick thoughts on the Jaguars as they prepare to play the Philadelphia Eagles in a 2024 Week 9 game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa.
John Oehser, Jaguars Senior Writer…
- Offensive MVP. With the season at its midway point, we'll examine in these first two quick thoughts the offensive and defensive most valuable players through eight games. We'll also take quarterback Trevor Lawrence out of the equation because he's in a sense always the offensive MVP – which makes the choice here rookie Brian Thomas Jr. While that goes along with an obligatory hat tip to second-year running back Tank Bigsby – who is the unquestioned choice for Most Improved Offensive Player – Thomas has been the most-welcome story of the Jaguars' offense through eight games. He has produced on a remarkably consistent, spectacular level – and as often as not, he has made key plays when the Jaguars' offense has been productive at important times. His graceful, deceptive speed makes him difficult to cover and his high football instincts/IQ allow him to make plays above the Xs and Os with striking regularity for a rookie wide receiver. The Jaguars' offense has been too sporadic at times this season. Within that inconsistency, Thomas has emerged as a go-to player and a player who is on his way to becoming the team's best receiver in two decades.
- Defensive MVP. This is a tougher choice than Thomas, only because the defense has been too inconsistent – with its tendency to allow big plays in the passing game the defining issue of what is by any measure a disappointing season. But with a nod to improving second-year linebacker Ventrell Miller, the choice here is third-year veteran Travon Walker. With defensive end Josh Hines-Allen off his team-record sacks pace from last season, and with the interior of the defensive line struggling to produce pressure, Walker – the No. 1 overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft – this season has continued the steady improvement he has made in three NFL seasons. He always has been a high-end player against the run, and always has drawn attention from opposing lines and coordinators. He began late last season to produce consistently as a pass rusher. That trend has continued this season, with Walker leading the team through eight games with 6.5 sacks and continuing to be a steady presence on an otherwise struggling defense.
Brian Sexton, Jaguars Senior Correspondent…
- This isn't a fire sale, it's just good business. Walker Little was going to play no matter what; the Jaguars need to know if he can be their long-term solution at left tackle or if they need to start making other plans for the position. Cam Robinson was leaving in February regardless of how this season went, and getting a reported fifth-round pick that could become a fourth-round pick was too good to pass up. Robinson was a good player and valuable locker room guy for a number of years, but the Jaguars think highly of Cole Van Lanen – who can play guard and tackle – and they have rookie Javon Foster, who they believe can be a starter. Trading wide receiver Christian Kirk, as was also rumored in recent weeks, would have been a fire sale. Robinson just made too much sense.
- Running back Travis Etienne Jr. would really help this offense. I know there is somewhat of a debate on the number of carries he should get versus Tank Bigsby, but I don't think his greatest value is taking a handoff. Etienne can stress a defense catching the ball out of the backfield. and using his speed and suddenness to find a seam and help the Jaguars get ahead on down and distance. Imagine facing second-and-3 instead of second-and-7? How much would that help a struggling offense? The Eagles are big and powerful up front on defense, and finding room to run will be a challenge. That's why a west-coast offensive approach where the short passing game is essentially the running game would help a lot this week.
Another week to improve. Jaguars practice for the Week 9 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Check out some best photos from the Miller Electric Center below ⬇️
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Mitch Morse (65) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones (22) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) and defensive end Travon Walker (44) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Andrew Wingard (42) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Andre Cisco (5) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) and defensive end Travon Walker (44) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell (3) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Andre Cisco (5) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell (3) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Darnell Savage (6) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Evan Engram (17) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Joshua Cephus (19) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive backs during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide reciever Velus Jones Jr. (38) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back Jake Funk (36) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide reciever Velus Jones Jr. (38) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Tim Jones (15) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide reciever Velus Jones Jr. (38) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight ends coach Richard Angulo and tight end Evan Engram (17) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars kicker Cam Little (39) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back D'Ernest Johnson (2) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars punter Logan Cooke (9) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars long snapper Ross Matiscik (46) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Tanner Muse (55) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Andrew Wingard (42) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide reciever Velus Jones Jr. (38) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide reciever Velus Jones Jr. (38) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back Keilan Robinson (31) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide reciever Velus Jones Jr. (38) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Steven Jones (64) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11) and wide receivers coach Chad Hall during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) and running backs coach Jerry Mack during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Evan Engram (17) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback John Rhys Plumlee (18) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Blake Hance (73) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Evan Engram (17) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Blake Hance (73) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Luke Fortner (79) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen (70) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Daniel Thomas (20) and cornerback Tyson Campbell (3) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back Keilan Robinson (31) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back Keilan Robinson (31) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Anton Harrison (77) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Louis Rees-Zammit (84) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Walker Little (72) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Cooper Hodges (75) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars kicker Cam Little (39) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Steven Jones (64) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 30, 2024.
Kainani Stevens, Jaguars Team Reporter/Producer ..
- The Robinson trade signifies the beginning and the end for some Jaguars. The longest-tenured Jaguars player, Robinson, was officially traded on Wednesday to the Minnesota Vikings. Now, Little will get the call for the remainder of the season as an unofficial audition for a long-term contract. Little has started 18 games at various positions on the offensive line. He is most notably comfortable as left tackle, but he must prove his worth over the remaining nine games of the season. Little has battled injury and inconsistency in Jacksonville. I think his play the rest of the way will have a big impact on what position the Jaguars will focus on come draft time.
- Play the young guys. As the season begins to get more and more out of hand, I find myself anticipating younger players seeing significant game action. Wide receiver Parker Washington will see an increased role considering wide receiver Christian Kirk is done for the season after suffering a broken collarbone. I'm also intrigued by the progression of tight end Brenton Strange in his second NFL season. Two lesser-known players I would like to see on the field more are cornerback De'Antre Prince and edge rusher Myles Cole. Both position groups lack depth on this roster. While I expect nothing drastic from Prince or Cole right now, I would like to get a better forecast as to what their upside might be for next season.
