One of the biggest storylines surrounding the Jacksonville Jaguars this season is the sophomore slump Brian Thomas Jr. has experienced. After an electrifying rookie campaign in 2024, the former LSU Tiger was expected to take his game to the next level and join the top echelon of NFL receivers. However, that hasn't been the case.
Thomas struggled with drops early in the season and sprained his ankle in Week 9. He's missed the past three games but is now a full-go against the Tennessee Titans. This begs the question: what kind of role will he have in light of Jakobi Meyer's success?
The Jaguars are thrilled to have Brian Thomas Jr. back
Before Brian Thomas Jr. got hurt, he had hauled in 30 receptions for 420 yards with one touchdown. That's not a bad statline per se, but it certainly wasn't the kind of production Jacksonville expected in Year 2. In fact, his team-worst nine drops and his catch rate of 50 percent truly showed how much he was struggling.
The 2024 first-round pick was listed as limited each of the past three games but was ultimately ruled out for each one of them. This week, though, he was a full participant in practice and didn't get a designation for the Tennessee matchup.
Regarding Thomas Jr.'s return, head coach Liam Coen is thrilled to have the second-year receiver back, pointing out that the Jags could use his deep-threat capability. On the other hand, he needed to see how he did in practice first.
"[We] will have to see what he looks like, obviously, this week, and see how much he can do and help us get out on the grass, obviously," Coen responded when asked how Thomas' eventual return would impact the receiver depth chart (13:44 mark). "We definitely need his presence and get somebody out there that can continue to stretch the field and make big plays for us. So we'll take it day."
Related: 3 bold predictions for the Jags game vs. the Titans in Week 13
What kind of role will Brian Thomas Jr. play with the Jaguars?
The team could most definitely use Thomas' ability to stretch the field, and it's possible that having nearly a month off allowed him to get better physically and regain focus. Having said that, Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington have thrived during his absence, and the Jags may not want to mess up the formula.
Meyers and Washington have quickly become Trevor Lawrence's most trusted targets, and it wouldn't make sense to give their targets to Thomas if he's still having trouble hitting his stride. Conversely, if he made an impression in practice, the Jaguars need to find a way to incorporate him into the game plan.
For the time being, though, it's just hard to tell what kind of role Brian Thomas Jr. will get against the Tennessee Titans. What's certain is that he'll need to make the most out of his opportunities if he wants to be a big part of the offense moving forward.