Just a few weeks ago, the Jacksonville Jaguars look in a state of disarray. They had lost five straight games to start the 2021 season and it was uncertain when they would win their first game. A talking head went as far as to suggest they could be the first team to go 0-17.
However, the Jags kept grinding and earned their first victory of the year against the Miami Dolphins in Week 6. Although they went on to lose to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 8, they bounced back in Week 9 and beat the Buffalo Bills.
The Jaguars’ defense was able to contain quarterback Josh Allen and limited the Bills’ high-powered offense to just six points. On the other hand, they only scored nine points and need to get better production from their offense, as the defense can’t keep up performing at such a high level every week.
The Jaguars will visit the Indianapolis Colts in Week 10. If they want to start the first winning streak of the Urban Meyer era, these five players will need to shine.
Jaguars player that must shine vs. Colts No. 1 – TE Dan Arnold
Tight end Dan Arnold has become an important piece of the Jaguars’ offense. Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell recently told the local media the coaching staff needs to look for ways to get him involved. Also, they are will explore ways to move him around and look for favorable matchups.
Arnold has become one of Trevor Lawrence’s favorite targets, catching 20 passes on 30 targets in the last four games. He will most likely get a big workload against the Colts.
Jaguars player that must shine vs. Colts No. 2 – DT Taven Bryan
It took him a while but defensive tackle Taven Bryan finally played the way the Jaguars envisioned when they made him the 29th overall pick in the 2018 draft. Against the Bills, the former Gator logged two sacks and four pressures.
Head coach Urban Meyer recently said the defensive front doesn’t always generate pressure in the interior but Bryan made it possible in Week 9. The Jaguars will need him to once again play at a high level if they want to pressure Colts quarterback Carson Wentz often.
Jaguars player that must shine vs. Colts No. 3 – S Rudy Ford
Safety Rudy Ford took over the slot in Week 9 and the coaching staff should be pleased with the results. The 2017 sixth-round pick worked his way up the depth chart and has gotten an increased workload in recent weeks. Mainly a special teams player for most of his career, the Jaguars are giving him a chance to show what he can do in an expanded role.
Ford registered the first interception of his NFL career against the Bills. He also logged seven total tackles, and three passes defensed. With cornerback Tre Herndon still nursing an MCL injury, Ford will continue to line up in the slot. If he continues performing at a high level, he might keep the job for the remainder of the season.
Jaguars player that must shine vs. Colts No. 4 – Carlos Hyde
Running back James Robinson is set to return to the starting lineup in Week 10. However, he may not be 100 percent healthy after hurting his heel in Week 8. Head coach Urban Meyer told the media Friday the team will split the workload in the backfield, which means that Carlos Hyde will get plenty of carries.
Hyde made his first start of the 2021 season in Week 9, racking up 21 carries for 67 yards. He lost a fumble and dropped a pass that could have put the Jaguars in a position to score. Those kinds of plays are the ones that can tip the scale in a game. It remains to be seen what kind of workload Hyde will get but he needs to make a few plays and break off a few long runs whenever he gets the ball if the Jags want to pull the upset in Week 10.
Jaguars player that must shine vs. Colts No. 5 – Jamal Agnew
The Jaguars have been trying to make Jamal Agnew a big part of their offense in recent weeks. While he’s made several plays, he has room for improvement. Against the Bills, he hauled in three passes on five targets and had a drop. Back in Week 6, he caught five passes for 78 yards. Two of those grabs went for more than 20 yards.
Trevor Lawrence needs to play better but he also needs help from his supporting cast. Agnew needs to make a few big plays Sunday.