Silver And Black Pride
An interception prone quarterback versus an interception machine linebacker.
That sums up the upcoming battle between Las Vegas Raiders signal caller Geno Smith and Jacksonville Jaguars defender Devin Lloyd.
Smith, the Raiders’ 35-year-old, $75 million quarterback, boasts 10 interceptions thrown this season and was atop the league in that category for much of the season until the Miami Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa said hold my beer (he has 11 picks thrown on the year). Lloyd, the Jaguars’ first-round pick in 2022 (27th overall), is tied for the league lead in interceptions at four (alongside Chicago Bears safety Kevin Byard; who picked off Smith twice in Week 4). On the year, Lloyd has the longest interception return for a touchdown: A 99-yard pick six against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 5.
But here’s the kicker when it comes to this potential matchup between Smith and Lloyd: It’s the Jacksonville linebacker that’s been limited in practices this week as he recovers from a calf injury that forced him to miss the Jaguars’ Week 7 contest with the Los Angeles Rams. Like Las Vegas, Jacksonville is coming off a bye week and Lloyd’s return to practice — albeit limited — is a sign he may return.
The Utah product is a supreme nuisance when tasked with pass coverage as Pro Football Reference charts the 27-year-old with 12 completions allowed on 17 targets (70.6 percent completion rate) for 101 yards and one touchdown given up. Opposing quarterbacks sport a 65.7 rating throwing his way — as evidenced by the four interceptions on the season — and the average receiving yards per target Lloyd is yielding is 5.9. The 6-foot-3 and 235-pound linebacker has 28 total tackles (16 solo) with two stops for loss and two quarterback hits, also.
Thus, if he’s on the field, the Raiders must be wary of No. 0.
“Devin a little bit more on the quieter side early getting to know him and then you talk to him, and you hear a very mature dude. He had specific goals that he wanted to accomplish this season, and I thought he attacked it in the exact right way. You look at the offseason program wanting to get faster, a little bit more athletic, be a little bit more dynamic,” Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said of his playmaking linebacker this past Wednesday. “I thought he attacked it the right way. He came in training camp, we had multiple conversations with him and just, ‘This is what I expect, these are my expectations for myself as a player and how I can help this defense and this team.’ And that’s what it’s been the entire time that I’ve gotten to know Devin. He is obviously made a ton of huge plays for us this season and I have a lot of respect for the player and person.”
Lloyd missing Sunday’s matchup would been a boon for the Raiders. The Jaguars placed [wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter on injured reserve with a knee...
