Jaguars want Brian Thomas Jr. to step up amid Hunter harm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The important thing phrase relating to Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is confidence.

On Wednesday, Thomas mentioned he hasn't misplaced any regardless of early-season struggles. Coach Liam Coen mentioned he hasn't misplaced any confidence in him, both. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence echoed the identical sentiment.

The beginning of Thomas' second season has been underwhelming in comparison with his rookie season. Thomas completed third within the NFL in receiving yards (1,282 yards with 10 TDs) in 2024 behind solely Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson.

In 2025, Thomas' 365 receiving yards rank forty first within the NFL and his 13.5 yards per catch rank twenty eighth. He has additionally been stricken by 5 drops (tied for second-most in NFL), in accordance with ESPN Analysis, and there have been a number of cases wherein he appeared to keep away from contact whereas making an attempt to make a catch.

The offense, in consequence, is struggling — averaging 19 factors per sport (twenty sixth) and scoring 19 factors mixed within the final two video games.

“Any participant that has possibly not executed as a lot as they'd wish to — as a participant and as a coach — [the approach] is to only preserve pushing by way of that,” Coen mentioned. “… It takes work, it takes endurance, it takes time, and also you're simply hopeful that it is going to have the ability to come to life right here.”

The Jaguars will want Thomas greater than ever as a result of Travis Hunter, whom the staff had moved into the No. 1 receiver function earlier than the Week 8 bye, was positioned on injured reserve due to a noncontact proper knee harm he suffered throughout Thursday's follow. The staff remains to be making an attempt to find out the extent of the harm and whether or not Hunter might return from IR after the minimal of 4 video games or if it's going to be longer.

Whatever the size of time Hunter misses, the Jaguars want Thomas to place up related manufacturing to his ultimate six video games as a rookie, when he had double-digit targets every week and caught 50 passes for 675 yards and 5 touchdowns. Earlier than the harm, Hunter was averaging 42.6 yards per sport and led the staff in yards after catch (139). The onus can be totally on Thomas to fill in.

“Watching this week's follow … [Thomas] practiced the most effective I've seen him follow,” Coen mentioned. “I imply that. Really imagine that. Informed him that and actually count on him to indicate up and make some enormous performs for us as we go.

“And [told him], ‘Look, you do not have to go and be anyone however the most effective model of B.T.J. and that is going to be rattling ok.'”

Thomas has proven glimpses of what the Jaguars count on from their 2024 first-round choose. He got here by way of with a clutch 33-yard catch on third down within the Jaguars' game-winning drive towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in Week 5. Two weeks earlier than, Thomas had a 46-yard catch-and-run to arrange the Jaguars' successful landing with lower than two minutes to play towards Houston.

These glimpses of what he did as a rookie are there, however the consistency is lacking. He is engaged on discovering that.

“[I have to] go on the market each sport [and] give it my all [and] compete,” Thomas mentioned. “Even if you happen to really feel like you do not do the most effective, come out subsequent week, attempt to do higher than what you probably did final week. My mindset is to place my finest foot ahead each day [and] come out and compete.”

Thomas' 52.1 receiving yards per sport in 2025 is the fourth-lowest receiving yards per sport in a participant's second season after recording 1,000-yards receiving as a rookie, in accordance with ESPN Analysis. Solely Michael Clayton (26.6 YPG), Kyle Pitts (35.6), and Terry Glenn (47.9) averaged fewer yards per sport in 12 months 2 among the many 34 rookies who posted 1,000-yard receiving seasons in NFL historical past.

That quantity can change considerably as a result of the Jaguars have 10 video games remaining, nevertheless it is a sign of the severity of Thomas' drop off: He averaged 75.4 yards per sport in 2024.

However Thomas is not in denial about his struggles. After practices he places in further work on the JUGS machine and catches further passes from Lawrence. Lawrence says the 2 have common conversations, not simply in regards to the offense and what's occurring on the sector, but additionally about how dealing with and responding when issues aren't going properly.

Lawrence has gone by way of related struggles in his profession — he is on his third head coach and offense and has a league-high 74 turnovers since he entered the league in 2021 — so he has tried to counsel Thomas.

“He is such a younger participant and he is in his second 12 months and I feel that is a part of creating as a participant on this league,” Lawrence mentioned. “And I've gone by way of loads of my very own challenges as properly and instances the place possibly I did not play my finest and felt like I used to be leaving some stuff on the market. And so I feel us simply having that relationship, having the ability to discuss to him, he is been superior with me and really receptive and I feel the communication has been nice.

“I've received all the arrogance that he will play rather well and be simply nice. So I am not involved with that.”

Earlier than the bye, Thomas set season highs in catches (eight) and yards (90) and had his lone landing within the Jaguars' Week 6 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, however he had simply three catches for 31 yards towards the Los Angeles Rams in Week 7 — a sport wherein Hunter was the point of interest of the cross offense (14 targets, eight catches, 101 yards, TD).

Fellow receiver Dyami Brown mentioned he is aware of Thomas' hunch is non permanent and he is ensuring the younger receiver would not get overwhelmed by it.

“I am all the time by his facet,” Brown mentioned. “Even when he has these video games like that, I all the time wish to inform him, ‘Man, bear in mind to be who you're. Do not let this section you in any sort of means, as a result of on the finish of the day, we want you to be, you. Do not let it get to your head. As a result of when issues get to your head and also you dwell on it, issues repeatedly simply occur and also you sort of don't need that.'

“… It is simply all about how will you reply.”

Which works again to confidence, and Thomas' hasn't wavered.

“[Confidence level is] excessive as all the time,” he mentioned. “I really feel like I do know what I might do and I do know what I am able to.”