Jacksonville Jaguars getting ready for Browns amid coaches’ absence

Jacksonville Jaguars defenders preparing without coaches’ guidance.

Due to COVID-19 contact tracing protocols, the Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coaching staff has been working remotely, but that hasn’t stop players from getting ready for their Week 12 matchup against the Cleveland Browns.

Although most of the coaches should be back by the weekend, the Jaguars will be without defensive coordinator Todd Wash on Sunday. With or without coaches, this Jacksonville team needs to show up on Sunday so players have taken matters into their own hands.

Veteran defensive tackle Abry Jones was coaching the Jaguars defensive line on Wednesday due to the defensive coaching staff.

Linebacker Joe Schobert said in a recent sitdown with the local media that this is an unusual situation to be in, and he isn’t wrong. As inspiring as it is to see players lead the Jaguars training sessions, that’s not their job. It’s a great thing that the team hasn’t stopped preparing for the Browns, but that doesn’t make the lack of coaches less concerning.

The Browns won’t take it easy with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Jaguars will have to be ready for the Browns regardless of who coaches or who dresses up. Schobert said in the conference he’s aware of the situation the team is in and there’s not much they can do about it, but prepare to the best of their capacities.

Even if this Jacksonville team had all their coaching staff at the facility, their defense will be without defensive end Josh Allen, slot cornerback D.J. Hayden, and safety Daniel Thomas. They all were placed on the Injury Reserve List after the team’s Week 11 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Schobert acknowledged in the sitdown that the team has gone through a lot of adversity but also pointed out that whoever takes the field has to execute, and he’s right. In the end, people will look at the end result, not the circumstances that led to it.