JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Michael from Orange Park, FL
This smells like trouble. Do you think T-Law starts Sunday?
This has turned into the story of the week as the Jaguars prepare to play the Minnesota Vikings at EverBank Stadium Sunday, with quarterback Trevor Lawrence practicing limited with a left shoulder injury Wednesday. This perhaps wouldn't be a big deal in a vacuum, but the Jaguars signed former backup C.J. Beathard to the active roster from the Miami Dolphins' practice squad Wednesday – and that's a significant enough move that it's out of the vacuum. Lawrence was the last player out of the Jaguars' locker room in the second half of a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday after being hit hard on a scramble in the second quarter, so the injury isn't nothing. Beathard gives the Jaguars a quarterback with knowledge of the offense to back up Mac Jones if the latter has to start in place of Lawrence, and I don't think the Jaguars would have signed Beathard if there wasn't a real chance of Lawrence missing Sunday. I also think Lawrence is a tough guy who has played through a lot of injuries in three NFL seasons so he will play if at all possible. Stay tuned.
Bill from Jacksonville
Does the organization regret paying Lawrence $255 million?
Of course not. Lawrence and the entire Jaguars offense had a miserable first half Sunday, but he played well over the four games before that – and he made plays in the second half Sunday to help rally the Jaguars despite injuries on the offensive line, to himself and to his receiving corps. Lawrence did not play as well Sunday as he had in recent weeks, but the Jaguars extended Lawrence's contract this past offseason knowing he wasn't yet elite and that he was still developing. Based on the circumstances under which they paid Lawrence there's no reason to regret the move.
Marcus from Jacksonville
Do you think the Jaguars could work out a deal with the league to spot their opponents 10 points to start the game? Seems like they don't wake up until they're down by 10 or more, so can we just start the game there so that, even if they lose, we can see four quarters of actual professional football?
I don't think this will happen.
John from Merritt Island, FL
What's up with signing Beathard straight to the active roster?
This happened because the Jaguars signed Beathard from the Dolphins' practice squad Wednesday. When a team signs a player from another team's practice squad, he under NFL rules must be signed to the active roster for at least three games. Had Beathard been a free agent, the Jaguars could have signed him to the practice squad and elevated him from there on the Saturday before a Sunday game.
Jonathan from Formerly of Jax Beach
You honestly don't think you are defensive about this franchise and everything that is wrong with it? Seriously? And stop saying this is a free website. That's not a good reason to suck and is a microcosm of the problems with this franchise. Nobody is competitive from top to bottom, including this free website.
Who said I need a reason to suck?
JT from Palm Coast, FL
Not sure if you will answer this because I am asking you to use your gut. Do you think Jaguars General Manager Trent Baalke keeps his job after this year? He built this team, and they have failed epically. We have some very solid pieces in place, but this team isn't good enough. Change feels inevitable at this point. Do you think Owner Shad Khan fires everyone or does he just fire Baalke? Kind of hard to answer, but I am asking what does your gut say? You have a much more intimate understanding of this team than most.
I don't have a gut feeling for this. I'm not trying to avoid the question. It's obviously a legitimate question because the Jaguars are 2-7 and teams five games under .500 face such questions. Yes, Baalke built this team. Yes, it has failed epically so far this season. But he also built the 2022 and 2023 Jaguars and they didn't fail epically. They actually had varying degrees of success. Decisions about general manager and coaching changes are always tricky because such decisions are typically made by one person – the team owner – and the team owner doesn't always share decisions or even thoughts.
Kei from Kitakyushu, Japan
I miss the days of "Welcome to Duval, prepare to be hit" brand of Jaguars football. There's simply no *there* there with this current cast of characters. This roster full of "solid presence in the locker room" types (who nevertheless end up looking unprepared and undisciplined every game) just isn't it.
OK.
Cody from Dunnellon, FL
When is the last time the Jaguars had a first-team All-Pro? Feels like we take the field every year with a version of the same roster - underperforming, high -priced free agents paired with ''promising ' young talent that never meets the hype, and scrappy dudes who are fun to root for but wouldn't starters for the majority of the league. What gives?
Jaguars long snapper Ross Matiscik was a first-team All-Pro selection in 2024 – and while most starters on this team would start for most teams, the team absolutely lacks elite players. And you're absolutely right that the Jaguars have a lot of free agents who underperform compared to their contracts. The vast majority of NFL unrestricted free agents fit into this category. The Jaguars would be well-served moving forward to de-emphasize free agency. They would have been well-served not to have participated as much as they did this past offseason. It's hard to not participate in free agency. It's a tempting mistress, though one that often breaks your heart.
Rock from Columbus, GA
I do not want the Jaguars to fire Head Coach Doug Pederson. It will only make matters worse for this team. I really believe he can turn this franchise around. His first season as head coach, Jacksonville had the best season in a long time! Despite the odds they shocked everyone winning crucial games that got them AFC South title and got as far Kansas City. I would be thinking about this decision of letting him for they may regret it later.
I don't want the Jaguars to fire Pederson, either. I think he's a very capable coach who has shown he can manage a team and game situations (for the most part). I don't know if Pederson will return in 2025. The Jaguars are losing a lot more games than they're winning and such situations don't stay status quo forever.
JaxJohn from Aurora, CO
I think that one of the biggest issues with Trevor is his lack of situational awareness, whether it is fumbling the ball in your own end or throwing interceptions in the red zone on early downs. I could understand last week's interception if it was fourth down but on first down you got to make sure you are not taking any risk. Is this something that could be communicated through helmet communication?
No. Situational awareness must be learned with experience.
Don from Marshall, NC
This organization hasn't done anything substantial to help Trevor Lawrence be successful. His offensive line is inconsistent, his receivers drop and run the wrong routes, the only way he can get pick up short yardage is if he does himself. The play calling is horrific. It's not Trevor!
When it comes to believing in quarterback Trevor Lawrence and not much else about the Jaguars, Don remains "all in."
James Robertson from Salt Lake City via Jagsonville
Mr Ooooo So tired of moral victories. Well, time to say, "Wait till next year. "I think I will jump on the Lions' bandwagon. They look pretty good. Sayonara!
There are no moral victories in the NFL.
Hugo from Portland, OR
Early on you said this was a "good team with some great players." That switched to a "good team with good players." Now it's a "bad team with good players." Are we going to get to "bad team with bad players" by the end of the season?
Because I write about the Jaguars every day, and because teams change throughout the course of a season, what I say and write about the Jaguars sometimes changes throughout the course of a season.
Kevin from Jacksonville Beach, Fl
Hi, John. I think the Vikings will put wide receiver Justin Jefferson wherever Jaguars cornerback Ronald Darby is on the field Sunday and he will have a Gold Jacket kind of day. How would you change the defensive backend to cover him?
They could try starting cornerback Montaric Brown, but the best way to negate a great receiver or receivers is the same way you negate a great quarterback – with a great pass rush.
Matt from Jacksonville
Brian from Jax needs to get some more sleep. He's not getting enough REM.
He's OK. He's just wasting time sitting still.
