Jaguars rookie sensation gets illustrious accolade despite hitting a speed bump

This season hasn't gone the way the Jacksonville Jaguars probably envisioned. Dubbed the most talented team in franchise history, they're 2-6 and on the brink of being eliminated from playoff contention. That said, not everything has been doom and gloom for the Jags. Wide receiver Brian Thomas has been a revelation, which is why it isn't surprising to see him get the spotlight in spite of his team's underwhelming record.

Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports included Thomas on his Midseason All-Rookie team, pointing out that his elite speed makes him a deep threat and has helped him have an immediate impact for Jacksonville.

"Thomas has been electric down the field for the Jaguars to date. Just so effortlessly smooth out of his stance, and his accelerators are of the elite variety. He's run past essentially everyone and flashed after the catch, forcing five missed tackles on his 33 receptions. This Jaguars rookie is currently the leader among all first-year pros in receiving yards with 573. "

A first-round pick in this year's draft, Thomas is averaging 17.1 yards per reception. On top of that, he's reached the end zone five times, putting him on pace to tally over 1,000 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Both would be team records.

Currently, Justin Blackmon holds the team record for receiving yards by a rookie with 865 yards while Allen Hurn has the most receiving touchdowns for a Jaguars first-year receiver. Thomas should have no trouble breaking both records. Having said that, the former LSU Tiger hit a speed bump in Week 8.

Thomas suffered a rib injury in the loss to the Packers. Expected to miss two to four games, his final diagnosis was encouraging: The rookie wideout is day-to-day and could suit up for the Week 9 game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He was wearing a non-contact vest in practice Wednesday, per Michael DiRocco of ESPN, and was listed as limited on the initial injury report.

The Jaguars a franchise-cornerstone in Brian Thomas Jr.

Nine games into the regular season, the Jacksonville Jaguars have gotten mixed results from their 2024 draft class. Second-round pick Maason Smith has been unremarkable. The same is true of fourth-round picks Jordan Jefferson and Javon Foster. The three of them have been a healthy scratch at different points of the year. On the other hand, Brian Thomas Jr. and Jarrian Jones have contributed right away.

Thomas, in particular, is playing like a vested veteran. His deep-threat capability has given the offense an element of verticality that it had been missing for years. Not surprisingly, the Jags are looking for a way to get him as involved as possible. The past few games, he's also gotten snaps at running back, something he says he's familiar with, noting that he used to tote the rock growing up.

"I feel super comfortable running the ball. I was able to play running back growing up in high school," Thomas said after the win over the New England Patriots in Week 7. "It feels normal to me being able to play that, getting the ball in my hands. I feel like I'm a playmaker, so once I get the ball in my hands, I feel like I'm going to make a play."

In fact, the only thing that could prevent Thomas from having a bigger impact is the rib injury dealing with. But even if he has to miss time, the Jaguars should feel thrilled about finding the bonafide WR1 Trevor Lawrence needed to take his game to the next level.

The bottom line is that the Jacksonville Jaguars got a keeper in Brian Thomas Jr., and even if he doesn't ultimately win Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, he's getting widespread recognition from around the league.

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