In Week 14, the Jaguars (4-8) host the Chargers (4-8) at TIAA Bank Field at 4:05 p.m. Here are five notable stats and quotes surrounding Sunday's matchup:
Rookie rusher: DE Josh Allen, who was selected seventh overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, posted his ninth sack of the season in Week 13 against Tampa Bay and has now registered the most sacks (9.0) by a rookie in franchise history. Allen's 9.0 sacks are the most among all rookies in the NFL this season and he is one of three rookies – along with San Francisco DE Nick Bosa and Raiders DE Maxx Crosby – with at least 10 tackles for loss. He joins Bradley Chubb (2018), Myles Garrett (2017-18) and Von Miller (2011) as the only NFL players over the last 15 seasons to post at least 9.0 sacks and two forced fumbles through 12 career games. Allen looks to become the seventh player in franchise history to record 10.0 sacks in a single season this Sunday.
Quotable: "He is an incredible player and an incredible talent. Seeing his success has been awesome. He has a chance to be very, very special in this league for a long time to come. Jaguars fans are in for a treat because this can be years and years of greatness." – DL Calais Campbell on DE Josh Allen
Minshew Mania: On Monday, Dec. 2, Head Coach Doug Marrone announced that rookie QB Gardner Minshew will return as the team's starting QB. The Washington State product played the entire second half in Week 13 against Tampa Bay and completed 16 of 27 passes for 147 yards and a TD. In 10 games this season, he has completed 204 of 334 passes (61.1 comp. pct) for 2,432 yards, 14 TDs and five INTs. He joins Dan Marino (1983) and Dak Prescott (2016) as the only rookie QBs in NFL history to throw for at least 14 TDs with five-or-fewer INTs through their first 10 career games. His honors in 2019 include five Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week accolades and an NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month award for his play in September. With a win against the Chargers on Sunday, Minshew will improve to 3-1 as a starter at TIAA Bank Field.
Quotable: "He's fearless, and that's the thing that I like about him the most. He steps up in the situation, he won't blink. And as a receiver, I feel that this room has to help him out. He's the man in this offense. So, if he wants to change the plays, whatever he wants to do, that's what we're going to do and we're going to make it work." – WR DJ Chark Jr.
Lambo Leap: In the Jaguars' last meeting against the Chargers, K Josh Lambo connected on a game-winning 30-yard FG in OT to capture a 20-17 victory against his former team. Lambo, who played with the Chargers from 2015-16, has made 25 of 26 FG attempts this season and has the best FG pct. (96.2) in 2019 of any NFL kicker with a minimum of five attempts. Lambo's leg strength was on display in Week 13 as he connected on a season-long 53 yarder for the Jaguars' first points of the game. Since signing with the team in 2017, he has made eight of nine FGs of 50-plus yards, including both attempts this season. During that span, Lambo's 88.9 pct. rate on kicks of 50-plus is the highest among active kickers with a minimum of five attempts. He has made all 38 attempts in home games, including all 33 tries at TIAA Bank Field.
Quotable: "Josh Lambo has been lights out. He's been automatic and he's been automatic in pressure situations. As long as Lambo can do that and help us put points on the board and control field position with those kickoffs ... He has been everything that we need." – WR Chris Conley
WR Trio: The Jaguars are one of two teams in the NFL (Dallas) to have three WRs with at least 500 yards and two TDs. WRs DJ Chark Jr. (58 receptions for 881 yards and eight TDs), Chris Conley (37 receptions for 625 yards and two TDs) and Dede Westbrook (49 receptions for 544 yards and two TDs) are the first WR trio in franchise history to accomplish the feat since WRs Dennis Northcutt, Ernest Wiliford and Reggie Williams accomplished the feat in 2007. Chark and Conley have each totaled career highs in receiving yards this season, while Westbrook has posted his second consecutive year with at least 500 receiving yards.
Quotable: "I just come in and work. I've got receivers around me that help me every day. I thank Chris (Conley), I thank (Keelan Cole) because he's always there for me. But like I said, these guys have never given up on me even last year when the outside had comments, the guys in this locker room never doubted me. I wouldn't say surprised [about the season I'm having]." – WR DJ Chark Jr.
My Cause My Cleats: Across the league during Week 14, players will debut custom cleats as part of the NFL's My Cause My Cleats campaign. More than 45 Jaguars players have elected to participate by working with local and national artists to customize cleats to represent a cause or organization that is important to them. Each pair of shoes tells a personal story, and many will be donated to NFL Auction to raise funds for their chosen organization. Several players will represent local organizations, including S Jarrod Wilson who has chosen to represent Wolfson Children's Hospital with his cleats and visited the hospital on Tuesday and had nearly a dozen patients sign his cleats.
Quotable: "I know God has blessed me to be in this position, and it's not about what I do on the field. I think it's more important what I do off the field and just giving back. I'm only one of 7.6 billion people out here in the world. I'm just trying to help the world as best I can, one day at a time." – S Jarrod Wilson
Every week during the 2019 season, Jaguars Public Relations Assistant David Wolf will write five key stats with supporting quotes about the Jaguars' upcoming game. A Chapel Hill, N.C. native, Wolf joined the Jacksonville Jaguars in May 2018.
