JACKSONVILLE – Urban Meyer is hardly ruling out a trade this week.
The Jaguars' head coach on Monday provided few specifics on the possibilities or potential makeup of such a move.
"If it can make us better, we're listening," Meyer said during his weekly next-day media availability a day after the Jaguars’ 31-7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field in Seattle, Wash.
Meyer said he and General Manager Trent Baalke discussed potential trades Monday morning and will so again Monday evening. The NFL's trade deadline is Tuesday at 4 p.m.
"Obviously, we're listening," said Meyer, who is in his first season as an NFL head coach after 17 years as one of the most successful college football coaches of all time. "It's real interesting. It's my first time listening to those conversations between general managers – and that's going on this time of year.
Meyer said he didn't know if the Jaguars would be "buyers" – acquiring veteran talent for draft selections – or sellers (draft selections for players) in a prospective trade.
"There are certain needs we have and certain needs we don't have," Meyer said. "We do have some draft capital next year."
The Jaguars on Sunday struggled offensive and defensively in the first half, allowing the Seahawks a 17-0 lead at halftime that they extended to 24 in the third quarter. Jaguars rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence completed 32 of 54 passes for 238 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He threw seven consecutive incomplete passes in the second quarter and Jaguars receivers dropped multiple catchable passes throughout the game.
"I just had a team meeting: 'There's no secret pill, or there's no secret T-Shirt you can wear,''' Meyer said. "It's hard work. We didn't throw and catch yesterday very well. The week before we threw and caught very well [in a Week 6 victory over Miami]."
Meyer emphasized that the key is work and having Lawrence "on the same page" with the Jaguars' wide receivers.
"At times they weren't yesterday," he said. "We had a couple of issues that were glaring."
NOTABLE
Meyer on Monday discussed in detail the team's 12 penalties for 93 yards Sunday, specifically discussing a first-half sequence in which the Jaguars were penalized for 12 men in the huddle and called a timeout to avoid the same penalty before the ensuing play. "We needed that timeout," Meyer said. "We have to get that corrected. I was really upset about that. That should never happen. We addressed that today." Added Meyer, "Winning football doesn't have 12 penalties."
ETC., ETC.
Meyer said center Brandon Linder, out with a high-ankle sprain since a Week 5 loss to the Tennessee Titans, is nearing a return – but he doesn't believe the eight-year veteran will play Sunday. Linder originally sustained a medical collateral ligament/high-ankle sprain, but the MCL has healed. … Meyer also said defensive end/linebacker Josh Allen (two sacks) "had a really good day," adding that the following defensive players also graded well Sunday: defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton, defensive lineman Malcom Brown and linebackers Myles Jack and Damien Wilson. "I love where he's at," Meyer said of Allen. "His leadership is great, and you think about the way he played in that second half: They were on fire, him and [defensive end] Dawuane Smoot. They were all over the field. They were enjoying it, having fun and trying to get some momentum for our team." … Meyer said the offensive line on Sunday played "a step below what we expect," with only starting left guard Andrew Norwell grading positively.
