Gang Green Nation
The Jets beat the Jaguars last season, with both teams struggling at the time. However, this season’s Jacksonville team is 9-4 and could be heading for an AFC South title. Can the Jets play spoiler with the undrafted rookie Brady Cook starting at quarterback?
Let’s break down the Jaguars roster, going position-by-position:
Quarterbacks
When the Jets beat Jacksonville last season, Mac Jones was at the helm as Trevor Lawrence ended the year on injured reserve. Lawrence has returned and has already matched his career-best win total from 2022 when he was a pro bowler.
However, his quarterback rating has dropped for the third year in a row since then. Lawrence has also tied a career-high this season with five rushing touchdowns, though.
The backup is Nick Mullens, who has only thrown one pass all year. He’s experienced enough, with 20 career starts, although he has only won five, including none since 2020.
Offensive Line
Jacksonville overhauled their interior line this year with Robert Hainsey at center and Patrick Mekari at right guard joining returning starter Ezra Cleveland at left guard. They’ve been solid but Mekari has a team-high eight offensive penalties.
Walker Little returns at left tackle with 2023 first round pick Anton Harrison on the right. Little has given up a team high nine sacks and missed his first game last week with a concussion. He is listed as questionable.
While none of their starters have started all 13 games, the Jaguars have been healthy on the whole as Harrison is the only starter to miss two games.
It’s helpful that reserve Cole Van Lanen is so versatile. He has started six games at four different positions.
Also on the bench are ex-Jet Chuma Edoga, who has two starts this year, albeit both as an extra tight end, and two rookies. Third rounder Wyatt Milum hasn’t started a game yet but has played 43 snaps at guard off the bench, while sixth rounder Jonah Monheim did start one game at center.
Running Backs
After seeing his role reduced last year, Travis Etienne has returned to a lead back role after the Jaguars traded Tank Bigsby in September. Etienne needs just 83 more yards to post his third thousand-yard season and has nine total touchdowns. He doesn’t have a 100-yard game since September, though.
Two rookies – fourth rounder Bhayshul Tuten and seventh rounder LeQuint Allen – are in reserve. Of the two, Tuten has seen more action and posted modest numbers, but he does have five total touchdowns.
Pass catchers
The Jaguars drafted Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter with the second overall pick to play a dual wide receiver and cornerback role, which had mixed results, but he is now on injured reserve.
Partly in response to that injury, the Jaguars traded for veteran Jakobi Meyers and that’s starting to pay off as he has a touchdown in each of the past three games.
Brian Thomas Jr., a pro bowler last season, has had a disappointing season with just...
