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 Detroit Lions in a 2024 Week 11 game at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich.
John Oehser, Jaguars Senior Writer…
- A real test. This is true on multiple fronts for the Jaguars this week. One way is that their opponent, the Lions, currently may be the NFL's best team – a tough, motivated team that has won consistently in multiple ways in difficult situations in recent weeks. They're physical offensively and defensively, and can will their way to victory in dominant fashion. They believe they're good and they're right. Another way is that the Jaguars' postseason chances are realistically long since over, making it fair to wonder about their motivation this week in a tough venue a week before their Week 12 bye. The Jaguars are also beat up, and playing without quarterback Trevor Lawrence for a second consecutive week. The Jaguars have played remarkably tough in tough matchups the last three weeks against contending NFC teams. Their resilience and desire were on display, and they had a chance to win all three games late. It will take perhaps their best effort of the season to be in that position again Sunday.
- Maybe time. The storyline around Lawrence moving forward could be fascinating – and it's absolutely important. Lawrence in four NFL seasons has proven his desire and willingness to play through injury on multiple occasions, doing so late in the 2022 season and on four different occasions with four different injuries late in the 2023 season. Lawrence now has a left-shoulder injury that reportedly could require surgery at some point – though Head Coach Doug Pederson said multiple times this week that option isn't being discussed within the team. Lawrence missed his first start of the season with the injury in a loss to the Minnesota Vikings last week and will miss a second start Sunday. With the Jaguars' playoff hopes are all-but over, at what point does the team protect Lawrence from himself with an eye on the future – and an eye on ensuring Lawrence is healthy for the 2024 offseason? That time may not be now. But it might come. That may be the most important storyline around this team in the coming weeks.
Pushing through ➡️ Jaguars are spending the week at the Miller Electric Center before heading North to face off against the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Check out some practice images. 📸
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Gabe Davis (0) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd (33) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones (10) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Andrew Wingard (42) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd (33) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Andre Cisco (5) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Ventrell Miller (51) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Tyler Hall (40) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Javon Foster (62) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Andre Cisco (5) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Anton Harrison (77) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Shawn Bowman (49) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Dennis Daley (78) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Dieter Eiselen (60) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones (10) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Antonio Johnson (26) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Jerome Carvin (61) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Ventrell Miller (51) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen (70) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback C.J. Beathard (19) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Luke Fortner (79) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor and tight end Brenton Strange (85) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Shawn Bowman (49) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Shawn Bowman (49) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Luke Farrell (89) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Elijah Cooks (14) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones (10) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Elijah Cooks (14) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Devin Duvernay (12) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Joshua Cephus (80) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Louis Rees-Zammit (84) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Elijah Cooks (14) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide reciever Velus Jones Jr. (38) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide reciever Velus Jones Jr. (38) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback C.J. Beathard (19) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Joshua Cephus (80) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Elijah Cooks (14) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Tim Jones (15) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Ronald Darby (25) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Joshua Cephus (80) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones (10) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Andrew Wingard (42) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen (70) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones (10) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide reciever Velus Jones Jr. (38) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Myles Cole (59) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Arik Armstead (91) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars outside linebackers coach Bill Shuey during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton (52) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (23) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Ventrell Miller (51) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Arik Armstead (91) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd (33) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback C.J. Beathard (19) and running back D'Ernest Johnson (2) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Anthony Pittman (53) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) and defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen during practice at the Miller Electric Center on November 13, 2024.
Brian Sexton, Jaguars Senior Correspondent…
- Time is money. Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones wants another shot at an NFL starting job, and he's off to a rugged start after three turnovers against the Vikings. But I've found him to be a pro in conversation, and I expect he will be better this week than last. The best example: His answer to a question about his approach to his current opportunity, and his answer essentially was that his best shot is to ignore the future and focus entirely on this week – and the Lions. Exactly. He gets it. If he doesn't impress other teams with a good performance, it doesn't matter anyway. I don't know how much better he will play moving forward, or if playing better will create a market for his services next spring, but his focus on the here and now gives him a shot.
- Listen to Goff. After a five-interception performance in a victory over the Houston Texans Sunday, Lions quarterback Jared Goff didn't hesitate with an answer to a reporter's question about his mindset and how he overcame the adversity. "I had some unfortunate things early, but I've been through a whole lot worse than that," Goff said. "Mentally, I've been to the bottom. Some unlucky plays aren't going to throw me off my game." I almost cheered out loud reading that. I love that attitude and want to hear it from some Jaguars in the weeks ahead. Goff was discarded by the Los Angeles Rams after helping them get to a Super Bowl, and some observers believed he wasn't going to be the Lions' guy when he first arrived in Detroit. He's a winner. His attitude is exactly what the Jaguars need to adopt because they're at the bottom right now and they need the right mindset to get back on their game.
Kainani Stevens, Jaguars Team Reporter/Producer...
- Time for the leaders to lead. As the Jaguars sit at 2-8 just before the bye week, it now becomes much more about playing for pride as opposed to playing for a playoff spot. The Jags will face arguably the NFL's best team this week in Detroit, and a one-sided loss for Jacksonville is a distinct possibility. I've been impressed with the fight we have seen from this team the last few weeks against the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles. Now they face their toughest test of the season on Sunday in Detroit.
- Opportunity knocks for Travis Etienne. Running back Tank Bigsby did not participate in practice Wednesday and could be doubtful against the Lions. This gives a timely opportunity for Travis Etienne Jr. to earn back his spot as RB1. Etienne missed a chunk of time this season due to a hamstring injury, and Bigsby shined with those added touches as the starter. Now the tables have turned as Bigsby is battling an injury and Etienne will be the starting running back. With Etienne in a contract year, it behooves him to take this opportunity and run with it.
