![Jacksonville Jaguars Wide Receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) hauls in a pass during the fourth day of NFL Training Camp in shells at the Miller Electric Center on Sunday, August 2, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_98,w_1515,h_852/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ReutersImages/mmsport/55/01kzz3dt5zjjpsjm70pz.jpg "Jacksonville Jaguars Wide Receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) hauls in a pass during the fourth day of NFL Training Camp in shells at the Miller Electric Center on Sunday, August 2, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]")
Even though Brian Thomas Jr. was at the center of trade rumors in the offseason, the Jacksonville Jaguars made it clear several times that he was still a big part of their plans. Based on how dominant the third-year wideout has been in training camp, it's easy to see why the Jags wanted to hold on to him.
Thomas has worked on cutting down his drops and improving his rapport with Trevor Lawrence. That connection has been on full display in training camp, and the duo showed in the joint practice with the New Orleans Saints just how productive they can be when they're on the same page.
During the red zone period, Lawrence found Thomas for a touchdown pass, proving that they've come a long way. On top of that, head coach Liam Coen praised the former LSU Tiger after practice.
The Jaguars have watched Brian Thomas Jr. improve in training camp
Liam Coen met with the press corps after the joint practice. He's excited to see him grow in the offseason, noting that he's done everything he can to put his 2024 struggles behind him.
"I think he's attacked the offseason the right way. That's for sure. He's come in with a mindset and mentality that everything's forward. Everything's ahead of him right now," Coen told reporters. "We're staying in the moment in terms of each day, trying to get the best out of him, and he's attacking it the right way. The connection and chemistry with Trev has gotten better and improved. They're being deliberate about that.
Coen continued, "I would've liked to have been able to hit a little, a couple deep ones today, but the way Brandon [Staley] plays that defense. I mean, it kind of makes you really be patient as a as an offensive playcaller and as a quarterback. And receivers can get a little bit frustrated. They didn't today. I didn't. I didn't feel that. But it's hard to get the ball over the top of them. But I was pleased to see those guys make some plays."
For context, Brandon Staley is the Saints defensive coordinator. He was part of the Los Angeles Rams staff in 2020, when Coen was their assistant quarterbacks/wide receiver corps.
Anyway, Coen has talked about Thomas improving dating back to the offseason, and it's encouraging to see his work pay off. The same day the Jags had the joint practice with the Saints, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Media stated that the Jags don't want the 2024 first-round picks to run as many routes in the middle of the field as he did last year and will instead use him as a vertical threat.
Wolfe also stated that there's a day-and-night difference in Thomas Jr. from last year, so it's fair to say that his disappointing 2025 was an outlier rather than the norm, and we should expect to see him become the deep threat that shook up the NFL in his rookie season.
The Jaguars are ready to watch Brian Thomas Jr. be a No. 1 receiver again
Even though Parker Washington is trending toward being the No. 1 receiver, teams won't be able to zero in on him because they can't afford to let Brian Thomas Jr. get deep. Even last year, when Thomas wasn't at his best, opposing defenses still double-teamed him often. Now that he's back at being the game-changer he was in 2024, it will be even harder to stop him.
The coaching staff also deserves praise for not forcing a square into a peg hole. They realize that running crossers and in-routers wasn't Thomas' forte, so they will have him do what he does best, and that's stretching the field. Keep in mind that they won't using as a decoy, though. Lawrence will take advantage of their improved connection and will dial up as many deep shots as possible.
This will, in turn, leave more favorable matchups for Washington, Jakobi Meyers, and tight end Brenton Strange. Similarly, teams won't be able to stack up the box, as they'll have to drop an extra defender to slow down the Jacksonville passing game. This will open things up for Bhayshul Tuten and the running game.
Even if Brian Thomas Jr. doesn't cross the 1,000-yard line next season, the whole team will benefit from the growth he's undergone in the offseason.
Add us as a preferred source on Google