Skip to main content
Advertising

Jaguars News | Jacksonville Jaguars - jaguars.com

Game that was: "It means nothing"

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette (27) runs against the Los Angeles Chargers defense during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette (27) runs against the Los Angeles Chargers defense during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)

JACKSONVILLE – Leonard Fournette spoke little of the feat.

Yes, the Jaguars' third year running back surpassed 1,000 yards rushing Sunday for a second time in three seasons. That undoubtedly was an accomplishment.

But no, he said, this wasn't a time for celebration.

"It means nothing; we're not winning," Fournette said after a 45-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers at TIAA Bank Field Sunday. "It's tough. I'm not going to fake it with you. It means nothing to me right now."

Fournette, the No. 4 overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft, rushed for 50 yards on 15 carries Sunday. Those statistics don't reflect how well he appeared to run at times – particularly early. He rushed for 39 yards on 12 first-half carries, but just 11 yards after that as the Chargers' expanding double-digit lead helped limit him to three second-half carries.

Fournette surpassed the 1,000-yard mark on the Jaguars' first series. He joined former running back Fred Taylor as the only players in Jaguars history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in two of his first three seasons.

"It's tough every week especially being on the losing streak we're on right now," Fournette said. "Just knowing you have to restart all over and come back with a positive energy and a positive mentality. It's hard especially when you're having the same results that we're having."

NOTABLE I

With the Jaguars losing a fifth consecutive game by 17 or more points, Head Coach Doug Marrone was asked during his post-game press conference if he met with ownership and executive after Sunday's loss about his job status. He said he did not. "I think it's one of those things where I don't look for that," Marrone said. "I don't go search for that. I just figure I always look at it as a privilege to be able to be in in a position like this. Eventually, if you don't win enough games and you think it's better to go with someone else, then obviously that's out of my hands. I just keep doing the best job I can and just keep fighting. It is what it is."

QUOTABLE I

Quarterback Gardner Minshew: "We're playing hard, the guys care and everybody wants to win, and that's one of the things that makes it so frustrating. We're putting in the work, doing everything we can and not getting the results. It's frustrating and it hurts, but we're not going to quit trying to care anytime soon."

QUOTABLE II

Defensive end Calais Campbell: "This right here was bad. All you can do is put your head down and come back to work this week and give everything you got and leave it all out there. I'm going to keep my head up and keep fighting and come back to work tomorrow and give it all I have, and I know my guys will too. As ugly as it is, guys are getting experience and showing what they can do."

QUOTABLE III

Defensive tackle Abry Jones: "It was just a bad game today and we are going to have to fix that. To the outside world it looks like a team that doesn't really care about the game and what is at stake. … I don't want the fans or anybody to think that we don't care because we are deeply rooted in this with everyone else. Our defensive captain, Calais, has been on our backs about the way we have been playing, so now we have to figure something out."

QUOTABLE IV

Marrone: "They're professionals. Everyone is playing for something. Everyone is playing to maintain themselves in this league, play in this league, coach in this league, whatever it may be. They are professionals. They understand that. It doesn't look good. We've got to coach better and play better or else this league will eat you up and spit you out."

QUOTABLE V

Wide receiver DJ Chark Jr.: "We need to find ways to make it happen. It's not about a playoff race or any of that. It's simply about us going out there, making plays together on offense and defense, and winning the game just to see where we're at. I feel like talent isn't the problem. We just have to pay attention to details and show the will to win."

Related Content

Advertising