JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Ryan from Orange Park, FL

How difficult would it be for Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen to at least attempt to scheme wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. up like he was being used in 2024 more? I get the offense you run is the offense you run. But it is going to look awfully shortsighted and stupid of us if/when Thomas goes elsewhere and starts lighting up stats sheets when his new team simply deploys him in the way he is proven to be more successful. Does this whole standoff in his usage not start to smack a little of stubbornness on Coen's end? He seems to know and appreciate Thomas Jr.'s speed and skillset. But he is just not willing to break the set mold of his idea for wide receivers in his offense to take advantage of it.

I have received multiple emails along these lines in recent days, with this idea of Thomas "not being used correctly" presumably meaning someone somewhere on social media postulated this as a "thing." We have veered – and continue to veer – deep into overthinking and overanalyzing this situation, which makes sense because Thomas as a rookie in 2024 appeared destined to be an elite No. 1 receiver. Because that has yet to become the case, observers want reasons and people to blame. The reality is this may be a case where Thomas simply isn't a No. 1 receiver. I don't say that with malice. I don't want it to be true. I like Thomas and want him to do well. But the reality is he has not played like a front-line receiver since the beginning of the 2025 season. He has struggled with drops and missed opportunities during that time, and he too often has shown a tendency not to go strong for the ball in situations where he should. The Jaguars have continued to give Thomas opportunities because he has a tantalizing skill set, because he has made enough plays at times to merit the opportunities and because he's a team-first player who's very much not a "locker-room" issue. Still, he dropped an early pass in the Jaguars' last game – a 34-31 loss to the Houston Texans – and missed another opportunity late in the first half of that game. These were not the first such instances this season and Thomas did not play in the second half of that game. Head Coach Liam Coen early this week said this about Thomas: "We're going to continue to support him, put our arm around him and continue to do what we have to do make plays on Sundays. We have to continue to put him in the best position to do so. BT works at it. He cares about this. He cares about winning and losing. He cares about his team. I'm excited about attacking this week with BT." There is no standoff. Coen is one of the NFL's top offensive minds and the Jaguars' offensive production in his tenure reflects this. He is not being stubborn. There is no mold. Thomas has struggled and the Jaguars are trying to figure out how to best win games around those struggles. This is not a scheme thing. Why in the world would Coen be stubborn on this? Toward what end?

Scott from Atlantic Beach, FL

Uh, oh. Colts fire sale. I have been a Jaguars fan since the get. I have watched them draft first overall back-to-back and in the Top 10 way too many times. Not feeling bad for any NFL team, but don't need this "management has given up on us" rally from their players! And streaks don't go forever. I don't like this.

The Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday traded guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks for a third-round selection in the 2027 NFL Draft and a fifth-round selection in the 2028 NFL Draft. They also traded defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers for a fourth-round selection in the 2027 NFL Draft. These moves involving front-line veterans are about the future, with the Colts slipping to 2-5 this past Sunday and apparently heading toward an offseason that will feature something very close to a complete roster rebuild/regime change. Will these moves cause the Colts' remaining players to have some sort of rally against management when they play the Jaguars at EverBank Stadium Sunday? Perhaps. But I wouldn't stress that too much. The Jaguars are the better team and they have been really good at home for much of the last calendar year. None of that guarantees a Jaguars victory, but if the Jaguars don't win Sunday will because they didn't play well. Not because Colts players are unified against management.

Steven from Orlando, FL

I read an article that the magic number for the Jaguars entering this week is 13 wins. I find that hysterical, because the Jags could go 6-5 over the rest of the season and the Houston Texans and Colts would have to finish the season 8-2 for all teams to finish 10-7. I like our chances to win more than six games.

Just win, baby.

Charles from Jacksonville

Hey, "O." I am sure our faithful fans are grateful for our good fortune of the bye-week losses suffered by our division mates this past weekend. But none of it matters unless we cash in with a victory over the Colts this Sunday. This is a wild year with upsets all over the place. How do you see the game unfolding on Sunday?

I expect the Jaguars will stop the run well Sunday and I expect they will run well. I expect this because they want this to be their identity and I expect they will make a strong effort to play to that identity in the first game after a bye. I expect they will take advantage of this approach by getting a lead, forcing a takeaway or two and eventually hitting a big play or two in the passing game – and winning. I don't expect this to be easy, and fans may not be happy because I expect the Colts to play the Jaguars tough into the second half.

Jeff from Atlantic Beach, FL

This might be a "hot take," but the Jaguars' offense is better with BTJ on the team than without him. Has he underperformed? Sure. But he possesses what no other Jaguars wide receiver does: Elite speed that defenses must account for. That alone will open up things for other players. Other than an insane offer from another team, there is zero reason to part ways with him at this point.

You are correct that Thomas' speed and ability to win deep downfield is relatively unique among Jaguars receivers. It is up to him to perform consistently enough for this to matter.

Jeremy from Gilbert, AZ

There still seems to be a lot of consternation about Coen's decision to go for it or not on fourth down. Some people want to question whether he trusts the offense. Do they not realize that he trusted them on the first three downs and they had three strikes, so why would he trust them on fourth down? I say, let the man do his job.

Fair.

Kenneth from Jacksonville

With all this talk about Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington's contract, it got me thinking: Do you have any idea how much – if any – coaches get involved in player contract negations? I suspect it is a team-by-team and player-by-player basis, but what have you seen or understood covering the NFL? I would think if coaches were involved, it could cause friction between the player and coach – which is in part what having a general manager is for, that degree of separation. Any insight into this? Thank O. You're awesome.

Coaches rarely get involved with player contract negotiations. It's not their lane for precisely the reasons you cite.

David from Orlando, FL

The Colts and Texans are basically giving the South to us. I hope Coen can get these guys fired up to handle that business. I would like to see us definitively establish our will over the next few weeks. Duval 'til we die, O! What say you?

The Jaguars have not won every game under Coen. But with rare exceptions, they play hard. I don't think Coen getting the players "fired up to handle that business" will be an issue. That doesn't mean they will win every game. It does mean they almost certainly will be ready to play.

Scott from Jax

Yay! We won the bye week!

Yay.

Pedal Bin, IFOTY from Farnborough, Hampshire, UK

Oh Mighty 'O'/King of all Funk, with Mrs. O's imminent return from injured reserve, has Coach Coen given any indication where she will slot in? Helping our depleted secondary? The offensive line (seems appropriate) or long snapper?

Mrs. Ozone is probably more of a coach than defensive back, long snapper or offensive lineman. Or an advisor. She has "thoughts." Many, many, many thoughts. Oh so many thoughts.