The Jacksonville Jaguars disposed of the Houston Texans in Week 3, but one overlooked aspect of the gritty win is that wide receiver Dyami Brown left the game. So far, the team hasn't given any updates, but his potential absence would be a massive blow to an offense that has struggled to get going early in the season.
Brown was tackled in the game and fell on his shoulder. He left the game afterward and was listed as questionable to return. However, his designation eventually changed to out.
A third-round pick by the Washington Commanders in 2021, Brown signed a one-year, prove-it deal with the Jags. Despite his slow start to his NFL career, general manager James Gladstone was confident that the former North Carolina Tar Heel was going to build off of his strong finish to 2024. He was right.
Brown made a strong impression in training camp, and that carried over into the preseason. In three games this season, he had hauled in 10 receptions for 116 yards and racked up three carries for 15 rushing yards.
Related: 4 critical observations from the Jags' gritty win vs. the Texans
What will the Jaguars do if Dyami Brown extended misses time?
The Jacksonville Jaguars have options when it comes to replacing Dyami Brown in the short term. The most obvious one is rookie Travis Hunter. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner has had a combined 16 offensive targets in three games.
Hunter has already seen an uptick in playing time at corner, and the Brown injury could pave the way for him to have an expanded role at receiver.
But aside from Hunter, Tim Patrick could also see more playing time. The Jaguars traded for him just before the start of the regular season, and he has ample experience, hauling in 177 receptions for 2,419 yards with 15 touchdowns in five seasons with the Detroit Lions (one) and the Denver Broncos (four).
Since landing with the Jags, Patrick has logged 41 offensive snaps, 22 of them (more than half) came in Week 3 when Dyami Brown left.
Now, there's another issue that arises if Brown misses time. While Hunter and Patrick can replace some of his production, his absence would leave the team devoid of depth at receiver. Already, the Jaguars were thin at the position. The team's brass could elevate Chandler Brayboy or Dorian Singer off the practice squad, but neither has played in a regular-season game, and it's hard to tell how much they could contribute.
An alternative would be to make a trade or take a dive in the free agent market, but the Jaguars will need to add reinforcements in case Dyami Brown isn't available.