JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Michael from Orange Park, FL
Tough day, Zone. First, D-Ham and now Murray. I am worried now. Can the Jaguars overcome this?
The Jaguars indeed will be without defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton and safety Eric Murray for the rest of the 2026 season, with Hamilton sustaining a season-ending quadriceps injury in a 42-7 victory over the Indianapolis Colts Sunday and Murray sustaining a season-ending elbow injury in the same game. These are two veteran leaders who are critical to the defense. Hamilton's loss is particularly concerning because he is key to the Jaguars' run defense, and the run defense is the Jaguars' defense's "superpower." Injuries are a part of the NFL and great teams can – and do – overcome significant ones to make deep playoff runs. But there is also a point at which too many injuries can be too much to overcome. The Jaguars have not reached that point yet, but Hamilton is without question the Jaguars' most significant injury to date this season. The Jaguars' defense will change and likely won't be as dominant against the run. That is concerning. It doesn't mean the team can't overcome it, but it is absolutely a storyline to watch.
Ray from Jax
John: 42-7. 34-10. 35-6. Are you sure this isn't like the Southeastern Conference?
You are referencing the Jaguars' three victories at EverBank Stadium this season – 42-7 over the Colts, 34-10 over the Cleveland Browns and 35-6 over the New England Patriots – and you are correct that those feel more like mismatched college football scores than normal NFL scores. That is what makes the Jaguars' current seven-game winning streak in Jacksonville so remarkable – that they aren't just winning steadily and consistently, they are taking apart opponents and securing victories remarkably convincingly. They won all those games by at least 17 points, with quarterback Trevor Lawrence not finishing any of them. That sort of streak does not last forever – and considering there have been some long, difficult seasons around here with more home losses than victories, this is a time to be enjoyed and savored. These are good times for Jaguars fans. Good for them. They have earned it.
Scott from Gilbert, AZ
Zone, while Jacksonville has boasted some great running backs over the years, I thought you would want to know that Bhayshul is the first Jaguars player to rush for 100-plus yards, score a rushing touchdown, record 50-plus receiving yards and a receiving touchdown in the same game. Darn-Tuten, Baby!
OK.
Audie from Alamogordo
Jaguars looking for a defensive nose tackle? Take a look at Los Angeles Chargers defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe. He would fit right in with the Jags scheme.
The Jaguars between now and the November 10 trade deadline will actively pursue a nose tackle. The most fertile ground for this would seem to be struggling teams heading toward an offseason of resetting and rebuilding – and at 0-7, the Chargers' ground would therefore seem strikingly fertile. Remember, though: Just because things seem a certain way does not mean they are a certain way. The Jaguars will try to trade in the coming days. They will make calls. They will make offers. Whether teams will accept offers is not something the Jaguars can control.
Paul from St Augustine, FL
Last year, I got into a conversation with a Colts fan and he said, with bewilderment, "We gotta come up with a term for what happens to us when we play you guys in your stadium.'" I replied that we already had one: "Losing."
We talk a lot here in the O-Zone about the importance of being nice. This was not nice. It was sort of funny and I sort of laughed. But it was not nice.
Dadsmack from Vilano
John, with Hamilton's loss and the need to protect quarterback Trevor Lawrence, and given the choice, is it time to double down on Executive Vice President Tony Boselli's "big nasty people" philosophy and invest in the offensive line? It feels like pass protection is what we will need come playoff time.
I expect the Jaguars to continue aggressively pursuing defensive linemen as the NFL's November 10 trade deadline approaches. The focus on this area before Sunday was on pass rush/penetration – either interior or exterior. With Hamilton's loss, the focus also very definitely has turned to nose tackle. They could trade for pass rush. They could trade for nose tackle. They could trade for both. They could trade for neither. I will be surprised if offensive line is a major priority between now and the trade deadline.
Steve from Sunroom Couch
Dear, John. Are we not going to discuss the breakout game Combs had?
People ask questions. I answer them. That's the format here in the O-Zone. No one asked about linebacker Branson Combs in the immediate aftermath of Sunday's game. I did not therefore answer any questions about Combs in O-Zone Late Night the night of that game. You now have asked about Combs. He had an interception and multiple big tackles. He is a good, young player who the Jaguars like very much.
Jim from Jax
I was surprised wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter and wide receiver Parker Washington were still in the game late in the fourth quarter after most of the rest of the first offense were taken out. Thank goodness they didn't get hurt. Why risk injury when the game is out of hand?
This is professional football. Not the Southeastern Conference. Fewer than 50 players dress on game day. Someone has to play.
Robert from The ICDub
It was no secret that we were looking to add to the defensive line before the trade deadline. But wouldn't it have been better to not announce the degree of Hamilton's injury right away... to not lose more leverage in the trade talks? Are teams allowed to stay quiet for a time on injury related announcements?
The nature and severity of Hamilton's injury was such that it was pretty obvious to anyone watching it was serious. Also: Teams are going to want what they want for their players regardless of another team's circumstance.
JT from Palm Coast, FL
At times this season, this team has dominated enough to have the starters rest the entirety of the fourth quarter. Stats matter for a lot of accolades, but the stat that I am enjoying the most are the ass kickings!
I wouldn't worry about statistics lost in the fourth quarter of one-sided victories. The NFL is about winning. Statistical details tend to fade with time. Won-loss records rarely do.
JK from Ocala, FL
O, Sunday's game was fun to watch and I enjoyed seeing BTJ score. He didn't come down with his second target, then that was it for him for the day. Any thoughts as to why? Thx. Go Jags.
Lawrence threw 14 passes Sunday. Two went to wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. The Jaguars have a lot of good receivers and not all of them are going to get a lot of targets every Sunday. Very few will get a lot of targets on days when Lawrence throws 14 passes.
John from Hopkins, MN
Did you notice how the back end of the defense had better coverage on some of the sacks Sunday? It certainly looked like the back end and the rushers were more in sync with each other at least.
The Jaguars' defensive backs covered well for the most part Sunday.
Jeremy from Monroe, LA
Tecmo Bowl called, they want their cheesy uniforms back.
I received multiple emails about the "Bold City" rivalry uniforms the Jaguars wore against the Colts Sunday. Some emails were positive. Some did not like the uniforms. This is unsurprising because not everyone likes everything and not everyone dislikes everything. I don't like many things, but I was fine with the uniforms. They were sort of cool. I kind of liked them. Good for me, I guess.
Dawson from Middleburg
Big O, will we ever see those unis again? I loved them. I wasn't thrilled when they were announced but they grew on me and now seeing them in action as we destroyed the Colts, I can't help but hope we see them again. To this point, I don't think we've seen any teams' rivalry jerseys turn into anything else but I hope these do. They would make awesome alternates, but of course we need to make the prowlers our primaries first.
One for the Bold City uniforms …
Carol from Jax/east club
I rarely pay any attention to the fashion police and the squabbles and critiques of the various uniforms we have seen over the past years, but Sunday did catch my attention: French sevens? Seriously? Yuck. And while I am thinking of it, not too keen on blue shade on the helmets - half excepted to see a powder blue yarn puff glued to the top of each. More suitable for a baby shower than the football field. Double yuck.
… and one not fer.
