Jaguars send harsh message to Brian Thomas Jr. with reduced role vs. Patriots

Even though Brian Thomas Jr. struggled with inconsistency and drops in 2025, the Jacksonville Jaguars stuck with him, believing that he would get back on track. For a moment, it looked like that was going to be the case.

Throughout training camp, Thomas looked like the receiver who took the NFL by storm as a rookie. Sure, it was just a small sample, but No. 7 did enough to make you think that he could indeed reach the level he had in 2024. However, the regular season came, and he failed to validate the team's trust.

Thomas' drop issues re-emerged in the Week 2 loss to the Denver Broncos. Now, players are always going to have rough showings, but this wasn't a one-off for him. Understandably, the Jags sent a message in the 35-6 win over the New England Patriots, substantially reducing his role.

The Jaguars reduced Brian Thomas Jr.'s role in the win vs. the Patriots

On Jacksonville's first offensive drive of the game, Brian Thomas Jr. was absent, with rookie Josh Cameron taking his spot in the lineup. Thomas eventually stepped on the football field, but it was clear that the team decreased his role as the game went on.

Thomas's 12 targets ranked second on the team, behind only Parker Washington (18) ahead of Week 3. But against New England, he was only targeted once. Meanwhile, fellow wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, Cameron himself, and tight end Brenton Strange saw an uptick in targets.

Before the game, Meyers had a combined three targets. Against the Patriots, he caught seven receptions for 64 yards with a touchdown on eight targets. Meanwhile, Strange reeled in three receptions on five targets for 32 yards. He also failed to reel in the one that led to Trevor Lawrence's lone interception of the game, but that's a topic for another time. Last but not least, Cameron was targeted twice and had one grab for a touchdown.

But if there were any doubts that Thomas had a reduced role, his snap count is evidence that he did. Whereas Strange and Washington logged 50 offensive snaps each, Thomas only appeared in 23. Even rookie tight end Nate Boerkircher, who's TE2 behind Strange, got more playing time.

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Why the Jaguars reduced Brian Thomas Jr.'s role vs. the Patriots

Nobody will deny that Brian Thomas Jr. is highly talented. Nobody on the Jaguars can stretch the field like he does, but unless the third-year receiver overcomes his drop issues and shows that he's not afraid to be hit when he's catching the football, Jacksonville won't have any use for him.

Thomas may not be pleased with the Jags' decision, but he doesn't have anybody to blame for him. If he wants. Again, this isn't a recent issue. His route-running hasn't improved, and his drops played a role in the loss to the Broncos. This is a long-winded way to say that you're going to have trouble carving out a role if you're actively having a negative effect on your team.

Moving forward, Brian Thomas Jr. can only do two things. Either he puts his head down and fixes whatever is holding him back, or he keeps doing what he's been doing, which hasn't worked thus far. If he chooses the former, he'll eventually get more playing time. If he doesn't, he'll quickly work his way out of the team's plans. It's as simple as that.

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