The Jacksonville Jaguars have taken advantage of the weakened state of the AFC South and find themselves in first place after two weeks of football. However, they can’t afford to slip and must extend their lead if they want to stay at the top.
Next on the Jags’ schedule are the Los Angeles Chargers. They’re currently a 7-point underdog but have enough power on offense and a solid defense to come out of SoFi Stadium with their second win of the year. Moreover, Justin Herbert is day-to-day and might not play after suffering a fracture to his rib cartilage against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 2.
Whether Herbert suits up or not, Jacksonville will need to account for these five Chargers in Week 3.
No. 5 Charger the Jaguars must contain in Week 3: Derwin James, S
The Jaguars had no trouble moving the ball against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2 but it will be considerably more difficult against the Chargers’ defense. One player Trevor Lawrence can’t afford to lose track of for even one play is safety Derwin James, who can line up anywhere on the field.
James plays the run well and can get after the quarterback; he sacked Derek Carr in the season opener. But he also excels in coverage and can keep up with the best tight ends in the league.
A first-round selection in the 2018 draft, the former Florida State Seminole earned First-Team All-Pro honors in his first NFL season. However, he dealt with injuries in 2019 and 2020 and was limited to five games. James bounced back last year and has been his usual self this season, logging 15 total tackles, and one sack.
No. 4 Charger the Jaguars must contain in Week 3: Khalil Mack, OLB
Derwin James isn’t the only Charger that has dealt with injuries in recent years. It’s easy to forget it now but when Khalil Mack was in his prime, he was discussed as one of the top 3 defenders in the NFL.
A first-round pick in the 2014 draft, Mack was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2016. However, he was traded to the Chicago Bears before the 2018 season. He dealt with several injuries throughout his stint in the Windy City and was never the same player he was for the Silver and Black.
But Mack is fully healthy now. In two games this season, he’s recorded 3.5 sacks and three tackles for a loss. If the Jaguars’ offensive line wants to keep Trevor Lawrence’s jersey clean, they will need to find a way to neutralize the six-time Pro Bowl nod.
No. 3 Charger the Jaguars must contain in Week 3: Austin Ekeler, RB
Back in 2019, running back Melvin Gordon held out during the offseason because he wanted a top-market contract. But the Bolts didn’t cave in and instead signed Austin Ekeler to a four-year contract worth $24 million the following year.
Looking back, it looks like Los Angeles made the right decision, as Ekeler has low-key become a mainstay of their offense. While the Western Colorado product has never topped 1,000 rushing yards in the NFL, he came close last year, racking up 911 yards and eight touchdowns on 203 carries.
Moreover, Ekeler is an asset in the passing game. Over the last three years, he’s hauled in a combined 216 receptions for 2,043 yards with 18 touchdowns. The fact that he’s averaged 9.5 yards per reception throughout his career shows he’s a reliable target in the middle of the field and not just a safety valve.
No. 2 Charger the Jaguars must contain in Week 3: Mike Williams, WR
Wide receiver Mike Williams is a clear example that a player’s readiness coming out of college is always variable. A first-round selection in the 2017 draft, he mustered just 54 catches for 759 yards in his first two NFL seasons. To his credit, he reached the end zone ten times in that span but it wasn’t until 2019 when he logged his first 1,000-yard season.
Fellow wide receiver Keenan Allen is dealing with a hamstring injury and his availability for Week 3 is in question. DeAndre Carter had a solid outing against the Chiefs last week but he isn’t the kind of player defensive coordinators will game plan for. The one player the Jaguars’ can take their eyes off of is Williams. Against Kansas City, he tallied eight catches for 113 yards and one trip to the end zone.
No. 1 Charger the Jaguars must contain in Week 3: Joey Bosa, OLB
A good chunk of the players on the Chargers’ roster has dealt with serious injuries in recent years and Joey Bosa is no exception. A first-round selection in the 2016 draft, he suffered a foot injury in 2018 that forced him to sit out nine games. But whenever he’s healthy, he can wreak havoc at the line of scrimmage.
Last season, Bosa recorded 10.5 sacks and he already has 1.5 this season. And the only reason the Jaguars can’t double him is that they can’t leave Khalil Mack unaccounted for.
Mack and Bosa give the Chargers a dynamic pass rush duo, one that could make it difficult for the Jaguars’ offensive line to give Trevor Lawrence enough time to throw in Week 3.