JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Michael from Orange Park, FL

Trevor's playing? Really? Make it make sense.

Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence indeed appears likely to play against the Houston Texans at EverBank Stadium Sunday, with Head Coach Doug Pederson saying Friday Lawrence likely will play in the game after missing the past two games before a Week 12 bye with a left – non-throwing – shoulder injury. This follows much speculation in recent weeks that Lawrence might not play again this season, or that he might need surgery on the shoulder, or a bunch of other speculation. Why play? Because he's the starting quarterback, which means he gives the Jaguars the best chance to win. Because he wants to play. Because the Jaguars aren't yet mathematically eliminated from the 2024 postseason. All are legitimate reasons to play and all factor into the decision. Once the Jaguars are eliminated, or if it becomes apparent that surgery is necessary immediately, or that Lawrence isn't close to 100 percent, or something, then the thought here is playing him might be reconsidered. This still feels kind of fluid with six regular-season games remaining. Stay tuned.

Dave from Ennui, FL

I did some self-scouting over the bye week and discovered the only feelings I have remaining for this franchise are resentment and ridicule.

While this sentiment is perhaps a bit extreme, I can't rightly say that it's unique these days among O-Zone readers. The Jaguars' 2024 season has been bitterly disappointing. This is a team that went 9-8 the past two seasons and poured significant money into free agency in the offseason. Whatever the wisdom of such an approach, it by definition created the expectation that the Jaguars would contend for the postseason. While the Jaguars have lost multiple close games, the reality is they went 0-4 to start the season and haven't appeared close to being a playoff team since September. From that perspective, resentment and ridicule seem appropriate.

Don from Marshall, NC

I think we need some more cowbell! Go Jaguars!

When it comes to being right when he's right, Don remains refreshingly – and inspiringly – "all in."

Matt from Jacksonville

Not only are your readers smarter than you, but most of them also know more about football than people who have dedicated their lives to the game, both playing and coaching at the game's highest level. I weep at the tragedy of so much wasted brilliance. That said, what is different about our current defensive scheme that seems to have exposed our weakness at safety? I don't remember last year feeling like we had a huge hole at the position, but this year...

I don't know that the Jaguars' defensive scheme has exposed the weakness at the position as much as the play of the players in a few very important situations.

Aaron from Jacksonville Beach, FL

I'm not quite sure what you mean when you say you can't play young players. Of course you can.

You're referencing a recent O-Zone discussion regarding playing young players when the season is essentially over. A few points. One is that the Jaguars' 2024 season isn't officially over because they haven't been eliminated from the postseason. Another is that I believe the Jaguars will lean toward playing some young players when that happens. But the overriding point to remember is that NFL teams can't "just play all the young guys" when they're eliminated from the postseason. This is because there aren't 15 rookies on rosters who ought to be playing but aren't. Teams play players because they're the best options and NFL rosters aren't big enough for there to be massive starting lineup changes emphasizing youth at the end of disappointing seasons.

Dwayne from Jacksonville

I know you disappointed the fans that want Head Coach Doug Pederson fired during the season so we can start our replacement search early. Maybe you could throw them a bone and see if Urban Meyer is available?

I have made a life of disappointing others. I take responsibility for nothing on this front.

Bob from Sumter, SC

You've written about this before, but it finally sunk in this year for me. Defensive lineman Taven Bryan, wide receiver DJ Chark Jr., safety Ronnie Harrison, tight end Josh Oliver, linebacker Quincy Williams, cornerback C.J. Henderson, linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson, wide receiver Laviska Shenault, linebacker Devin Lloyd, center Luke Fortner and defensive lineman Maason Smith. You can't win consistently with these kinds of return from top round draft picks.

Those players weren't all early round sections, and I don't know that they all quiiiite fit your point, but any discussion along those lines is nitpicking. The Jaguars don't have enough great, blue-chip difference-making players. This doesn't make this an awful roster. It makes it a roster that's not quite good enough yet to be great.

Jimsure from DBS

The funniest letters to you are the ones who say, if we win out we can win the division and get in the postseason. Does ANYONE actually believe this could happen? We are ranked as the worst team in the NFL and I understand people believe in miracles, but really???

I doubt many people believe this will happen. I don't believe it will happen. But the Jaguars' schedule through 11 games was much more difficult than the final six games. And the Houston Texans' schedule is very difficult. Does that mean the Jaguars can make up a four-and-a-half-game deficit on the Texans in the AFC South with six games remaining? Probably not. Is it something to talk about in an otherwise difficult time? Sure.

Doug from Jax Beach

Great answer to Mario!

I am the king of all funk.

Brendan from Alternate reality where Jags win

Has a non-throwing shoulder injury ever put the streak at risk, KOAF?

No, but I once had a few too many IPAs at the combine and managed to muddle through. Ya gotta play hurt.

Mark from Manakin Sabot, VA

We may have found our next head coach with Matt Eberflus. His masterful handling of the clock at the end of the Detroit game was very Jaguar-esque. Do you think he has a chance?

Eberflus was fired from his position as head coach of the Chicago Bears Friday, a day after a loss to the Detroit Lions. I have no idea what Eberflus has to do with the Jaguars.

Brad from The Avenues

Not a big Holidays guy, John, but I do take the time to reflect this time of year. After learning that Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Willams has been sacked 45 times this season, I'm thankful that our pass protection is as good as it has been. Now if Trevor would just learn how to slide...

The Jaguars' pass protection for the most part has not been bad this season. I agree that quarterback Trevor Lawrence could protect himself better when running from the pocket.

Max from Jacksonville

When is Doug going to be fired?

This question assumes that it is a foregone conclusion that Pederson will be fired in the foreseeable future. I have received many similar emails about Pederson in recent days/weeks, just as I have received many such emails about Jaguars General Manager Trent Baalke during the same period. This is understandable because we are in an era where owners are quicker to fire key leaders than previously was the case. I don't know what the end of the season will bring for Pederson and Baalke. I do know the question is not necessarily "when" either will be fired but "if." Only Jaguars Owner Shad Khan knows the answer to either question.

Jonathan from Formerly of Jax Beach

I said is developing on their second contract, you bozo. Changes everything that I said. Thanks for the omission. You're a clown, Khan is a clown. Baalke is a clown. And people beat you up because this is our only outlet for this team that you continue to defend or sit on the fence. And yes, you don't understand the NFL because you admittedly only watch the Jaguars.

I without question am a clown, though likely not for the reasons you suspect. To clear up any misunderstanding here, I never have said I only watch the Jaguars. I do only cover the Jaguars and therefore don't pretend to know as much about other NFL teams as I do the one I cover. I don't watch many other NFL games on Sunday because … wait for it … I usually am covering the Jaguars on those day. Either way, I learned long ago not to pretend to be an expert on things I don't fully understand. My experience writing this column tells me not everyone shares this approach.

Michael from Fountain

Happy Thanksgiving, O. What is one thing you are thankful for this year? Personally, I'm thankful for the two head writers in Jaguars history. Vic cemented my fandom in 96, when he sent me a personal letter and my first copy of Jaguars weekly. You provide us with an outlet to fan out, 365 days a year, no matter how bad the season or questions get.

I'm thankful for Jonathan from Formerly of Jax Beach.