In Week 12, the Jacksonville Jaguars will have the chance to recover from a slump they’ve experienced in recent weeks. Although their offense showed steady improvement early in the 2021 season, they’ve been stagnant in recent weeks. Injuries have played a role in that and their lack of depth has been exposed.
The Jags’ running game hasn’t been the same since James Robinson hurt his heel in Week 8. Even though he missed just one game, he wasn’t himself the last two weeks and isn’t 100 percent yet. The wide receiver corps also has suffered several hits. DJ Chark Jr. fractured his ankle in Week 4 and was promptly placed on the Injury Reserve list. More recently, return specialist/offensive weapon Jamal Agnew hurt his hip against the 49ers and is also out for the year.
The silver lining is that reinforcements are on the way. Head coach Urban Meyer told the media Friday that the team plans to elevate center Brandon Linder and tight end James O’Shaugnessy to the roster for Sunday’s game. Linder would join the starting lineup while O’Shaughnessy would give Lawrence another option in the passing game.
With that in mind, here are three position groups that need to step up against the Atlanta Falcons.
1. Jaguars position group that needs to step up in Week 12 – Tight ends
Dan Arnold had zero targets against the 49ers. Their lack of plays and drives played a role but ultimately offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell accepted responsibility for not getting the tight end involved more.
Expect Arnold to get more targets in Week 12 but O’Shaughnessy should also get a bigger workload if he ends up playing. In fact, the Jaguars may want to have the two on the field at the same time whenever possible.
2. Jaguars position group that needs to step up in Week 12 – Cornerbacks
Urban Meyer told the local media the team has ruled out cornerback Shaquill Griffin for Week 12. This is a big blow for the Jaguars’ secondary as the 2019 Pro Bowl nod is the glue that holds the unit together.
Griffin suffered a concussion during the game against the 49ers and wasn’t able to clear protocols in time for Sunday. Either Nevin Lawson or Chris Claybrooks will step in his place and they could both split reps. Lawson may be the better option of the two, but neither one is an enticing option.
Tyson Campbell also got hurt in Week 11 but he will play against the Falcons. He suffered an AC sprain and popped up in this week’s weeks injury report. However, Meyer told the media he will suit up Sunday. The rookie out of Georgia has improved throughout the season, having allowed just seven receptions on 13 targets for 83 yards over the last three weeks.
Working in the Jaguars’ favor is the fact that the Falcons are dealing with injuries of their own. wide receiver Cordarelle Patterson has been a limited participant of practice this week and got the questionable tag for Sunday. If he sits out, the Jaguars’ secondary will have a favorable matchup.
3. Jaguars position group that needs to step up in Week 12 – WR corps
The Jaguars believe Trevor Lawrence is the long-term answer at quarterback, and it’s hard to fault them after watching him play this offseason. The former Clemson Tiger has made sound decisions in recent weeks and has avoided making big mistakes. The fact that he’s done it without a good supporting cast makes his progress even more remarkable.
Since DJ Chark Jr. went down with a fractured ankle in Week 4, the Jaguars’ haven’t gotten good production from their wide receiver group, and things won’t get any easier without Jamal Agnew, who will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a hip injury in Week 12. The team signed John Brown to the practice squad on November 12. They elevated him to the active roster in Week 11 but was targeted just once.
The 2014 third-round pick might get promoted again in Week 12. With more time to get acclimated, he should have a bigger workload. Also, the Jags will need Laviska Shenault to pick up the slack. He’s been relatively quiet in recent weeks after hauling in six catches for 99 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 4. Without someone who can get deep, opposing defenses have had no trouble covering Marvin Jones Jr. He will most likely face cornerback A.J. Terrell in Week 12, and this could end up becoming one of the most important matchups of the game.