JACKSONVILLE – The focus and fight remain.

Andrew Wingard said that has been evident through the Jaguars' 2024 season. With one game remaining in that disappointing season, the veteran safety said that won't change.

"We're not going to quit; we're grinders," he said.

Wingard, a sixth-year veteran, spoke to the media a day after a 20-13 over the Tennessee Titans at EverBank Stadium Sunday – the Jaguars' second victory in the last nine games. Center Mitch Morse also spoke Monday – and like Wingard, offered perspective on a '24 season that began with high hopes, and that will end with different objectives and uncertain futures.

"It's been a unique experience, to say the least," Morse said. "This year has not been what we all thought it would be, and it has tested us being professionals."

Added Morse, "When you can play a game like we did [Sunday] together, it's just a celebration of the hard work you put in because we've been working. It's not from a lack of working."

The Jaguars, after back-to-back 9-8 seasons and a 2022 AFC South title in Doug Pederson’s first two seasons as head coach, will enter Sunday's regular-season finale against the Colts (6-8) in Indianapolis at 4-12.

Sunday's victory over the Titans marked the third time this season the Jaguars have won by seven points or fewer. Nine of their losses have come by that margin.

"When you really look back and take a step back and you see those games that we lost, it's gut-wrenching, it's heartbreaking," Morse said. "It wears on your soul. To end up with a game like that when you're on the other end of that, it soothed us, to say the least."

The Jaguars, after being eliminated from AFC South contention in early December, have won two of four games – both against 3-13 Tennessee. They also sustained narrow losses to the Las Vegas Raiders (19-14) and New York Jets (32-25) during that span, with Wingard saying quitting "never has been an issue here, I'm telling you."

"There are no divas on this team," he said. "It's really, really crazy. We have grinders here. We have practiced our asses off all year and we've worked hard. The culture is we've got dogs, we've got guys that work hard, and we've got guys that want to go out and be great. So that is not an issue in my opinion."

Morse and Wingard also discussed playing with outside questions about potential change within the organization, something Morse rarely has experienced in nine previous NFL seasons with Kansas City and Buffalo and something Wingard has experienced multiple times in five seasons with the Jaguars.

"You [say], 'This is in my lane; my lane is to understand the game plan, put myself in position for guys around me to be successful as possible,'" Morse said. "If you try to get outside of your lane or outside of what you know is in the realm of your control, that's when you just play a game of mental gymnastics; it's not healthy and it's not going to helps you do your job on Sunday.

"There might be other answers. That's just individualized to myself, but I feel like other guys share that same sentiment."

Said Wingard, "Having gone through it, experience is always a good teacher. But what I've learned is you don't dip your hand in things you have no control over. You try to be the best version of yourself and don't read into anything because you never know what's going to happen and you'll never know because it's above your paygrade."

NOTABLE

• Morse on Monday praised Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones, who has started six of the last seven games in place of injured starter Trevor Lawrence. Jones has thrown five touchdowns with seven interceptions in six starts, throwing three touchdowns with no interceptions in the last two games. "Mac Jones brings the guys along, really great to have in the huddle," Morse said. "His confidence is not cocky. It's hard to explain. He's got confidence in his guys, he's got confidence in what he does, and he does a great job of bouncing back from mistakes, but also learning from them. Mac has a bright future in this league, and I think if any team gave him a chance to make it, make him the staple guy, they'd be lucky to have him. It's been a privilege these past few weeks and months to play with him, just as it was with Trevor. He's just such a great dude, a vibrant personality and one of the most-liked guys in the locker room."