JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Tyler from East Haddam, CT

Does it make sense to use our star receiver, Parker Washington, on punt returns? Seems like an unnecessary risk.

Different teams and coaches have different philosophies on using starting/star players on special teams. Some organizations believe it is too risky and others believe the game-turning nature of a big special teams play merits putting the best players for those positions in those positions. Washington is the Jaguars' best wide receiver and he's also their punt returner. He returned two punts for touchdowns last season – at Houston and at San Francisco – in big situations, and I am not sure the Jaguars would have beaten the 49ers in San Francisco without his return. Is winning one or two games important enough for a really good player to play special teams? Most people would say yes. Washington is a smart returner with really good body control and doesn't seem to expose himself to a lot of bad situations while returning punts, so yeah … it makes sense to use him there.

Jordan from Mandarin

I have no doubt this is a playoff team. How deep of a run they go on seems to be dependent on how the defense responds and if the front office goes and trades for a pass rusher and/or corner.

I will be surprised if the Jaguars make a significant trade for a cornerback before the NFL's November 10 trade deadline. I will not be surprised if they try to improve the pass rush.

Dean from Rochester, NY

People are looking at the called-back touchdowns due to penalty all wrong. Many previous Jaguars teams wouldn't even have the touchdowns.

Dean's got jokes.

Seth from St. Augustine, FL

Penalties on all scoring plays should be reviewable. And/or coaches get one challenge per half to challenge a penalty call. It can be decided by the replay official upstairs or the league office. What do you think?

I doubt the league ever will go to a system in which "all" plays of any kind are reviewable because many penalties are judgement, which means a review often doesn't solve the issue. One official's interference is another official's incidental contact and judgement calls are unlikely to be changed unless they are overwhelmingly obvious. "Overwhelming obvious" does not mean a fan or a team not liking a call. Having review in these situations therefore has little impact. We saw this a few years ago when the league made interference reviewable and the replay officials rarely reversed the call. It was a fine idea until you thought it through with logic and reason, and then it just didn't work.

Charles from Riverside

Hello, John. I have always thought that bad calls by the officials were part of the game – say, like the weather. But some calls really affected our ability to beat the Houston Texans last Sunday. Does the fact we had 26 penalties in the previous two games predispose the officials to be more likely to make calls against the Jags vs. Houston? Are they mentally more likely to throw the flag?

Maybe. Maybe not. I'm not smart enough to peer inside the mind or soul of a man and know for certain what motivates them in these moments that ultimately determine how he is judged when he meets his maker. O-Zone readers probably know, though. They're pretty darned smart.

Steve from Nashville, TN

The number of Pittsburgh Steeler fans attending the Tampa Bay Buccaneer game this weekend in Tampa was startling. The crowd noise during Tampa's offensive possessions was more than noticeable. The Pittsburgh Steelers visit Jacksonville for Monday Night Football in the middle of December - is this a concern?

Fans of traditional teams such as the Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, Green Bay Packers and the like often outnumber fans from teams in "nontraditional markets" when playing in the stadiums of "nontraditional market" teams. This is not new. Could there be a lot of Steelers fans at the game in Jacksonville later this season. Sure. Will Steelers fans outnumber Jaguars fans or even come close to it? I don't expect that because I expect the Jaguars to be playing well, contending and winning at the time.

Fred from Naples, FL

The bye week could not have come at a better time for cornerback Montaric Brown. We really need him back against the Indianapolis Colts on November 1 as Jarrian Jones is a good backup player and will continue to be picked on opposite Travis Hunter if he continues to have to start.

Jones is also usually a really good slot corner. He struggled big-time in the Jaguars' last game this past Sunday. That is not his norm.

Oscar from Palm Coast, FL

With the bye week here, do you think the Jags can figure out how to generate more pressure on the quarterback with the guys we have, or is it time to seriously consider making a move for another pass rusher?

I expect the Jaguars will continue to work to generate pressure with the players currently on the roster and I expect they will continue to consider making a move for a pass rusher if one they believe can help them win is available.

Your Momma from Jax

I'm not playing Monday morning quarterback, but on Mondays … I play … quarterback … in … the morning.

Sure, you do.

Mark from Mishawaka, IN

Walker Little had a great game with zero sacks and zero pressures against one of the best pairs of edge rushers in the league. Your thoughts on his performance and his future?

Walker Little played very well at left tackle this past Sunday. Depending on the status of Anton Harrison, I expect Walker Little either will be the swing tackle or starting left tackle as the season moves forward. I don't know Little's future beyond that.

Joey from Port Saint Lucie

To beat the Jaguars: Throw deep. How do they fix this?

Get better pressure more consistently. Communicate better in the secondary more consistently. Cover better more consistently.

Jagwad from Hometown

Did Parker's contract drop after all his dropped passes?

I do not expect one game will dramatically influence contract negotiations between wide receiver Parker Washington and the Jaguars.

Chris from Mandarin

I don't think the coaches need to wait for Travis Hunter to get more comfortable on offense. Honestly, I think they need to get the hell out of his way and turn him loose.

It's awesome that you think this. I expect wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter to continue playing as a starter/fulltime cornerback. He played nine plays against the Houston Texans this past Sunday and I expect he will play a few more against the Indianapolis Colts on November 1. I don't expect he will play every play offensively. At least not immediately.

Kaydie from Riverside, Jacksonville, FL

I have empathy for the NFL referees. It strikes me that they seem to have a relatively thankless job making split-second decisions while large strong humans fly around them violently at high speeds. It's my understanding that the NFL Rules Committee reviews, considers and votes for rule changes each offseason. We now seem to have more games lasting more than the stadium three hours. Perhaps in an effort to try and please everyone, has the NFL rules book become too lengthy and complex?

The NFL rulebook is fine. My understanding is penalties are up this season at least in part because officials are diligently calling pre-snap motion, etc., perhaps more diligently than they have in years past – perhaps in an effort to get teams adhering to those rules more. Here's hoping whatever's happening the penalties around the league reduce moving forward. It's currently "a bit much."

Cliff from Everywhere with helicopter

I am sure you remember just prior to the start of the 2025 season I emailed to predict that linebacker Ventrell Miller would have a breakout year. That was pretty much sidetracked by the otherworldly performance of Devin Lloyd. So, I'm taking a belated victory lap now. His Mic'd Up feature was, I believe the kids say: "Off-the-chain."

Indeed.

Bradley from Death Valley, CA

I have always liked Travon Walker, and I know he is a solid pro. A second-tier edge, maybe even high second-tier. Unlike the elite guys, I have never seen him take over a game defensively, I have never seen him just absolutely cause mayhem and havoc. Did I miss that game or is it and others like it yet to come?

Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker is not second-tier. He causes mayhem and havoc on many, many plays. If all you are watching are passing plays and the ball, you may not see it. He may be the NFL's best run-defending defensive end, and he is key to a Jaguars defense in which stopping the run is the first of what they call "three pillars."

Brad from Myrtle Beach

Is this the most important bye week in team history?

Damned right.