Despite his struggles, Brian Thomas Jr. still has the support of the Jacksonville Jaguars, with head coach Liam Coen stating that No. 7 remains part of the team's plans.
In fact, Coen said that Thomas had a great week of practice ahead of the Cincinnati Bengals game, so a bounce-back performance shouldn't be ruled out. Similarly, teammate Jakobi Meyers is confident that the 2024 first-round pick can turn things around.
Jakobi Meyer's remarks prove the Jaguars still believe in Brian Thomas Jr.
Jakobi Meyers met with the local media ahead of the Bengals game. He stated that he's confident Brian Thomas Jr. will bounce back, noting that he's got the talent to put it all together. "When you got talent like that, it always works itself out," Meyers said via Rachel Phillips of First Coast News.
Later in the exchange, Meyers suggested that it's on Thomas to get back on track, arguing that he just needs to keep working on his craft.
"Like, you can't really give anybody confidence for real. I think going through this, shaking back, getting better," Meyers said. "That's what's gonna make him confident. So as he keeps his head down and keeps working, which he's been doing, you're gonna be all right."
Ultimately, Meyers believes it's up to him and every other receiver on the team to make the most of their chances.
"Yeah, it's a blessing and a curse, depending on how you look at it. So you just gotta be grateful for it, though, because it's an opportunity to really push yourself and get better. Whoever's in the room, that's me included. The young guys push me every day to go out there and get better. The way they keep making plays and know the answers to every question. Depending on how you look at it, it could be a tough opportunity, but at the same time, it's a chance to really grow your game if you want to."
Meyers is right. Whereas Thomas hasn't been able to capitalize on his opportunities, rookie Josh Cameron has taken advantage of his, scoring two touchdowns on three targets this season. Understandably, Cameron has earned a bigger role, while Thomas is seeing a drop-off in playing time.
Related: Brian Thomas Jr. isn't the only Jaguar drawing trade interest
Brian Thomas Jr. is under pressure to deliver for the Jaguars
The Jaguars won't outright bench Brian Thomas Jr. He's shown he can be a game-changer. Then again, that's moot if he can turn his talent into production, so the former LSU Tiger will continue to get limited opportunities and will only have an increased role if he can make plays. Otherwise, he'll continue to tumble down the depth chart.
Heck, Thomas has been the subject of trade speculation precisely because he's failed to live up to expectations. And at some point, the Jags will have to accept that he's simply not a fit. Keep in mind that general manager Jame Gladstone stated that the team wasn't interested in trading the third-year receiver because they expected him to be a pivotal piece of the offensive puzzle. However, that was several months ago, and things have changed since then.
Specifically, Parker Washington is entrenched as the No. 1 option in the passing game, while tight end Brenton Strange and Jakobi Meyers remain reliable contributors. Couple that with the ascension of Josh Cameron, and Thomas is running out of chances to get back on track.
Brian Thomas Jr. can shut down the noise if he can play like he did in 2024 when he took the league by storm. But if he does, speculation about his future in Duval will only go up.
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