The New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars have four more weeks to play out before they can wrap up their respective seasons.
They’ll try to use each other as a vehicle for a rare win when the teams meet on Sunday afternoon in Jacksonville, Fla.
And while these 3-10 squads aren’t bound for the playoffs, there still are individual goals to accomplish and stat sheets to stuff. Case in point is Jacksonville wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., who appears well on his way to setting franchise rookie records for receptions and yards.
Thomas’ eight catches for 86 yards in last week’s 10-6 win at Tennessee boosted his totals to 54 and 851, respectively, along with six touchdowns. Justin Blackmon had 64 catches for 865 yards for the Jaguars in 2012.
“I really want to set it,” Thomas said. “I really want to get it. That’s a big thing for me.”
Thomas has produced and played hurt, not missing a game despite sustaining a chest injury at midseason. His teammates and coach Doug Pederson have noticed, with the latter saying the team targeted him 10 times in the second half last week.
“He’s a great player,” said Jacksonville quarterback Mac Jones of Thomas, the 23rd overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. “He definitely brings that electrifying playmaking ability, and he’s very smart and works very hard. He’s all ball for sure.”
A potential matchup between Thomas and New York cornerback Sauce Gardner is one compelling reason to watch what on paper is an underwhelming game.
“Whether that’s rolling down into a coverage or double-teaming someone, B.T. is definitely getting some of that, which is great,” Jones said. “That’s a respect thing.”
While Thomas aims to etch his name into the record books, Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers will try to add more flattering numbers to a stat sheet that doesn’t reflect how frustrating the season’s been for him and the team.
Rodgers hit 27 of 39 passes last week in Miami for 339 yards and a score in a 32-26 overtime defeat and has thrown for 2,966 yards and 20 touchdowns, with eight interceptions, this season. But his 88.9 quarterback rating is the lowest in his career over a full season.
“Aaron is still Aaron. Can be highly efficient, highly effective, still can throw accurate footballs, quick release,” Pederson said.
That hasn’t been enough to help New York meet high preseason expectations. The Jets have lost nine of their last 10 games, including four in a row. They are 2-7 in one-score games and have lost the last three games by a total of 12 points.
Making matters worse, it seems unlikely the Jets will have leading rusher Breece Hall (knee) for a second straight week. Hall, who has 1,093 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns, was one of 11 players listed on the team’s injury report Wednesday.
“He’s been playing with a little bit of pain and fighting his way through that,” New York interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said. “It’s a thing that’s just, maybe it’s not improving as much as he’d like at this point.”
Running back Kene Nwangwu (hand), linebacker Haason Reddick (illness) and guard Alijah Vera-Tucker (ankle) did not participate in practice on Wednesday for the Jets, while tight end Evan Engram (shoulder) did not practice for the Jaguars.
–Field Level Media
