JACKSONVILLE – Lookahead Wednesday.

Let's get to it …

TC from Middleburg, FL

Fans are quick to judge decisions made on our JAGS after so many years of below-average results. I had concerns about Jags trading away linebacker Devin Lloyd and running back Travis Etienne Jr. I also worried about them not signing wide receiver Parker Washington to an extension before the season started. HOWEVER, I now am a believer in Gladstone and coaching staff as they have done an awesome job figuring this roster out. Running back Bhayshul Tuten is putting up numbers as just as good as Etienne and our linebackers have not missed a beat with Lloyd gone. Our offense and defense are in the top 10 in most categories and in many key categories we are within the Top 5. Our salary cap seems tight but manageable today and in the future. I cannot find any glaring holes. Who are these JAGS? What am I missing? Does this not look sustainable? I would love your thoughts.

Fans fan. It is what they do, and it was understandable for fanning fans to question the Jaguars not re-signing Lloyd and Etienne. They were good, popular players. But while both players put up the sorts of statistics that make them seem irreplaceable, the angst of fans and observers about their departures never was shared by the organization. It wasn't that the Jaguars didn't like those players, but there was every confidence that the team could withstand their losses and be as good or better overall moving forward. That is the job of people who run NFL organizations – to make necessary and sometimes unpopular decisions without emotion and with an eye on the long-term. The leadership regime of Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli, General Manager James Gladstone and Head Coach Liam Coen has done a remarkable job establishing the identity and culture of the organization, and they have done a remarkable job with long- and short-term personnel issues. They have built a team that plays hard and gets contributions from multiple areas. Is this sustainable? Sure, but the Jaguars must continue to play, hard, smart and motivated each week. There is no reason to believe they won't do this, but that must happen to sustain.

Henry from Jacksonville

This London trip feels big. Two huge games where if we win both, we can make a big statement to the league early on. How do you see the next two games playing out?

I'm not discounting the importance of the Jaguars' games in London against the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans in the coming weeks. They are two games against good, capable teams that very much need to win – and that makes them dangerous games. The Jaguars would be 5-1 this season if they win both. But the Jaguars have won 16 of 21 games and have beaten a lot of good teams during that time. They beat the defending AFC Champion New England Patriots by 29 points two weeks ago and are 3-1 leading their division. They are making statements all the time. If the football world is not listening, that is a football-world issue.

DMiz from Sacksonville

Per another reader, "What happened to fans' comments following John's answers to questions? They used to be at the bottom and I can't find them." I expected you to reply, "What's a comment section?"

Fair.

John from Jax

Hi, KOAGF. London is calling. Two big games coming up after a successful first quarter of the season (3-1). Time goes fast and I often have to remind myself to savor this season as likely our final season with our offensive and defensive coordinator. This is fun to watch and hoping we can avoid any significant injuries as we move forward. Can this be our season? The team seems locked in.

Professional football is hard. All teams want to be locked in. It's hard to be 100 percent, full-bore, ready-to-run-through-a-wall locked in in all 17 games. That said, Coen is strikingly good at ensuring this team is indeed 100 percent, full-bore, ready-to-run-through-a-wall locked in each week. This team plays hard. Really hard. All players appear to buy into their roles and are willing to play for the team goals over individual to a remarkable degree. Being locked in is something that will rarely be an issue for this team.

Art from Just shy of the ditch

Coincidence? No. 2 plays 100 percent of defensive snaps, and with a fervor! His physicality Sunday seemed extraordinary? I am not opposed to the two-way thing, just trying to be observant. Hoping he can continue to demonstrate greatness regardless of which side.

Jaguars wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter is ascending and playing at a high level at cornerback. I expect him to continue to play extensively at that position and continue to ascend. I expect the Jaguars to continue to seek ways to use him on offense, though not at the expense of what he does defensively.

Tony from Johns Creek, GA

O, just imagining how good the Jags could be if Hines-Allen and Walker would quit ghosting the defense.

The Jaguars are second in the NFL in points allowed second in rushing yards allowed. They are second in takeaways. I guess you could argue that they would be those things if Walker and Hines-Allen weren't playing, but your argument would sound a little silly.

Beavis from the South Side

Do you think Armstead reads this column? Seems like he played Sunday as if he read that I called him out – or that I pointed out that you were calling him out in a roundabout way. The interior pass rush was better than I have seen in a while. Hopefully, it continues to improve!

I would be very surprised if defensive tackle Arik Armstead reads the O-Zone and more surprised if what is written and said here influences how he plays. The Jaguars need Armstead to rush the passer as he has done in recent weeks.

Ray from Newport News, VA

I know it's way too early to ask this, but I believe we have three players (Arik Armstead, DaVon Hamilton and guard Ezra Cleveland) with void years next year. That is a lot of dead money to account for. Of the three, I hope D-Ham gets signed. While I like the other two, I really don't think we can afford them. What are your thoughts on these three vets? Second question is which players will be cap causalities next year, I suspect offensive linemen Walker Little and Patrick Mekari are the top two.

Thirteen games remain in the 2026 season. What happens in those games will influence these sorts of decisions. I expect the Jaguars to re-sign defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton. I have less of a feel for how the others will play out.

Colin from Fruit Cove, FL

Contrary to what many of Jacksonville's top fantasy football players believe, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. helps the Jaguars win football games. Did you see that block on the running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. touchdown run? Good stuff for BT.

Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. always has struck me as a humble, team-first player who wants to do well and wants to help the team win. He has had well-publicized highs and lows at times during three NFL seasons. Well-publicized highs and lows in the NFL often skew the narratives away from reality and the reality is while Thomas isn't perfect – and while time will tell if he is a "WR1" in the NFL – he is a good player who fits what this team does and helps the Jaguars win.

Wade from J.town

Record number of penalties called this week. Something tells me this will be addressed by the NFL. Excessive penalties do not produce a product people want to see. Sure, call the obvious and the game-changing ones but c'mon: This is football and we want to see some hits and plays.

Fair.

Awsimmons from Halifax

Well, Travis Hunter looks good. Really good.

We live in a world where people want answers and results RIGHT NOW! and forget that some things do not happen RIGHT NOW! Hunter, who now has played in 10 NFL games, appears to be adjusting and figuring how to make his elite athleticism translate into being very good at the highest level of his profession. He's getting better and better in real time. That he hadn't done this in his first 10 games at this level had people believing it would never happen. It appears those people may have been incorrect. Shocking, I know.

Kaydie from Riverside, Jacksonville, FL

Strictly in terms of yardage allowed, is the Jaguars passing defense really that poor, or is their run defense really just that good?

The Jaguars' pass defense is not poor. Even the best NFL defenses have games in which they allow big passing yards. The Jaguars' run defense is elite.

William from Dallas

How do you plan to develop the team?

I don't.