The Jacksonville Jaguars showed unwavering support for Brian Thomas Jr. through his ups and downs. However, they might have at last run out of patience when they benched him in the 34-31 loss to the Houston Texans in Week 6.
Thomas had two costly drops in the first half and didn't play a single snap on offense after halftime. His benching led to trade speculation, but head coach Liam Coen stated that he expected the third-year wideout to make plays for the team. He may have a chance to get back on track in light of Jakobi Meyers' appearance on the Week 8 injury report.
Brian Thomas Jr. may get a chance if Jakobi Meyers doesn't play vs. the Colts
The Jaguars posted their final injury report for the Week 8 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. Jakobi Meyers was listed as questionable with hamstring and ankle injuries. This doesn't mean that he will miss the contest, but there's a chance he will.
If that's the case, Josh Cameron may be the first in line to replace him. The rookie out of Baylor has gotten more playing time as the year progresses, but Travis Hunter could also see an uptick in playing time at receiver.
However, the biggest beneficiary of Meyer's potential absence might be Thomas, who's tumbled down the depth chart because of his inconsistency and drops this season.
If Thomas doesn't get much playing time, even if Meyers doesn't suit up, that will be a sign that the Jaguars no longer see him as a part of their offense.
Thomas has been a non-factor this season, hauling in nine catches for 105 yards with one touchdown on 20 targets. In the three games before the bye, he caught a paltry three passes for 25 yards.
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The Jaguars could tell how they see Brian Thomas Jr. vs. the Colts
Although the Jaguars have made it clear that they're not trading Brian Thomas Jr., he's been at the center of rumors ahead of the November 10 deadline, and understandably so. The 2024 first-round pick has dealt with drops and has struggled to catch passes in the middle of the field since last year. On the other hand, he took the league by storm as a rookie, reeling in 82 receptions for 1,282 yards with 10 touchdowns.
It's possible that Thomas simply isn't a fit in the Jags' offense, and if that's the case, a change of scenery may be best for him. And if Jacksonville makes him available, he would most definitely draw plenty of interest, as several teams in both the NFC and the AFC are in need of help at receiver.
Of course, there's a chance the Jaguars aren't bluffing and indeed want to keep him. But if they don't, the best course of action may be to trade him. Maybe his usage against the Colts will give us a clue on what they plan to do with him.
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