JACKSONVILLE – Christian Kirk put it plainly, clearly and simply.
The Jaguars are without a victory in their first three 2024 regular-season games. Kirk said that can and must improve, and the veteran wide receiver and team leader said a way for that to happen is for stars to shine. And soon.
"Our good players need to play better," he said this week as the Jaguars (0-3) prepared to play the Houston Texans (2-1) in a division game at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, Sunday at 1 p.m.
"We all need to step up and be able to lead. That's kind of the message right now."
Offensive coordinator Press Taylor agreed with Kirk, also speaking of the need for a balance between the urgency to make plays and playing consistently.
"Your best players have to play your best," Taylor said Thursday morning. “That's the way it has always been. Then you have to make the plays that come to you. If we can consistently do the right thing down in, down out, across the board – all 11 plus coaching staff, the communication process, everything – that's going to lead to the big plays happening. That's the expectation. That's the obvious.
"Consistently doing those little things right over the course of a game are going to lead to putting up points, maximizing your opportunities, converting third downs. That will lead to success."
The Jaguars through three games have averaged 13.3 points a game offensively, scoring two touchdowns in the last 10 quarters – one in each of the last two games. Taylor specified that the offensive struggles are fixable problems, saying, "I don't think it's anything major."
"I don't think it's anything we can't correct," he said. "It's just doing the right thing consistently. Then everybody around them has to play well as well. It's just all those little things over and over. It's not one consistent factor that's been going on for us. It's everybody's kind of taking their turn at the wrong time, it seems like, and having a lapse in the way we play.
"If it was just clear and obvious that this is our one issue right here, then we would certainly address that as quickly as possible."
NOTABLE
- Jaguars tight end Evan Engram (hamstring) and linebacker Foye Oluokun (foot) missed practice for a second consecutive day Thursday, with Engram having missed the last two games and Olukokun leaving a loss to the Buffalo Bills this past Monday with the injury. Head Coach Doug Pederson said this week Oluokun could miss Sunday's game. Linebacker Devin Lloyd did not practice Thursday with a knee issue after practicing full Wednesday. Jaguars players practicing limited for a second day Thursday: Running back Tank Bigsby (shoulder), safety Darnell Savage (quadricep), left tackle Cam Robinson (knee), wide receiver Gabe Davis (shoulder), right tackle Anton Harrison (knee), cornerback Jarrian Jones (shoulder) and cornerback Montaric Brown (chest). Pederson said early this week Savage could return Sunday after missing the past two games.
QUOTABLE
- Defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen on a Jaguars defense that allowed touchdowns on all five first-half Buffalo possessions in a 47-10 loss to the Bills: "There were some things – pre-snap stuff, the alignment, the adjust, getting our eyes right – particularly earlier in the game that we felt we could have done a little bit better job on. Obviously, we needed to. We left some plays out there. Ultimately, it falls on my shoulders. It's my fault. I could plan better, and could have gotten the guys ready to go a little bit better. It all falls on me. I take full responsibility for what happened. All we can do is we can learn from it, improve, get better and not let it happen again. That's what our focus been this week.
QUOTABLE
- Running back Travis Etienne Jr.: "Guys are getting back to the reason of why they started playing the game of football. Nobody had any fire Monday night. We all were fireless. I feel like we've been getting back to the reason we started playing the game, the reason we got into this – and just understanding that we're all we've got. If we want to get through this, we have to stick together. No one else is coming to save us. We've got to save ourselves. This (playing in the NFL) is a dream. We all long for this. We all wish to be here. While we're here, let's not piss away opportunities. We work so hard for only 17 of these in a year."
Rain or shine, it is time to work. The Jaguars held practice today at the Miller Electric Center to prepare for Week 4 of the 2024 NFL Season. 🏈
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Evan Engram during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive backs coach Kris Richard during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Tim Jones (15) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safeties Antonio Johnson (26) and Darnell Savage (6) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Louis Rees-Zammit (84) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson (98) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Arik Armstead (91) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive backs during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker (44) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars assistant wide receivers coach/passing game specialist Tyler Tettleton during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Luke Farrell (89) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive line during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars assistant wide receivers coach/passing game specialist Tyler Tettleton during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Louis Rees-Zammit (84) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle Tyler Lacy (93) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Louis Rees-Zammit (84) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Louis Rees-Zammit (84) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive backs during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Walker Little (72) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Walker Little (72) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars equipment staff during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive backs Zechariah McPhearson (34) and Daniel Thomas (20) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Arik Armstead (91) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive backs Zechariah McPhearson (34) and Daniel Thomas (20) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars assistant wide receivers coach/passing game specialist Tyler Tettleton during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson (98) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris (95) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Ventrell Miller (51) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars general manager Trent Balk during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Montaric Brown (30) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Ronald Darby (25) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Andre Cisco (5) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackles Jordan Jefferson (98) and Maason Smith (94) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones (10) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars outside linebackers coach Bill Shuey during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars specialists during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Luke Farrell (89) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Luke Farrell (89) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Elijah Cooks (14) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive line coach/run game coordinator Phil Rauscher during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Elijah Cooks (14) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive line during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Louis Rees-Zammit (84) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars performance staff during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Elijah Cooks (14), defensive end Myles Cole (59), and tight end Shawn Bowman (49) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars personnel during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars performance staff during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Evan Engram during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive line coach/run game coordinator Phil Rauscher during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 26, 2024.
