You have probably heard that Trevor Lawrence doesn't care about the expectations surrounding him and the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2023. In case you haven't, he said Wednesday that he won't pay too much attention to what people outside the team say about them, even if it's something positive. All things considered, Lawrence is taking the right approach. He and the team must focus on the task at hand, and that's beating the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1.
Later in his exchange with the media Wednesday, Lawrence talked about the challenge the Colts' defense presents, "They're a disciplined group, they do what they do, they do it well." And that's the thing, regardless of the expectations, the Jags must go show up and play Sunday.
While it's important to keep the bigger picture in mind, they need to take it one game at a time, and if they do, the wins will begin to pile up. With that in mind, here are other Jaguars, besides Trevor Lawrence, who must show out against the Colts in the season opener.
No. 5 Jaguars who must show out vs. the Colts in Week 1: Adam Gotsis, DE
Defensive end DaVon Hamilton will spend four games on the Injured Reserve to start the 2023 season. To fill the void, the Jags will use a combination of Jeremiah Ledbetter and Adam Gotsis. The former made the 53-man roster after a productive preseason and the latter was an integral part of the defensive line rotation last year.
A second-round pick in 2016, Gotsis will need to contain the edge and ensure Colts quarterback Antony Richardson stays in the pocket. If he and the defensive line can force the rookie passer to beat them with his arm, their chances of winning will increase considerably.
No. 4 Jaguars who must show out vs. the Colts in Week 1: Travis Etienne, RB
Former NFL running back LeSean McCoy raised eyebrows when he said the Jaguars' offense runs through Travis Etienne. As analyst Ryan Michael noted, that's far from the case, and Jacksonville was one of the most quarterback-dependant teams in the league to finish the 2022 season.
2022: #Jaguars were 4-0 when ETN had his four LOWEST rushing totals of the season.
— Ryan Michael (@theryanmichael) September 7, 2023
They were 0-2 during his two HIGHEST.#DUUUVAL is 3-17 anytime Lawrence’s passer rating dips below 90.0.
No team in professional football is more QB-dependent than Jacksonville. https://t.co/WCStvUnovN pic.twitter.com/fCoVeuFyN2
That said, Etienne will take lots of pressure off Trevor Lawrence's shoulders if he can consistently move the ball against a stout Colts' defensive front that includes DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart and Kwity Paye.
If Etienne does a good job of running the ball early on, he'll force Indy to stack up the box, which in turn will open things up for Lawrence and the passing game.
No. 3 Jaguars player who must show out vs. the Colts in Week 1: Anton Harrison, RG
The Jaguars drafted Anton Harrison 27th to replace Jawaan Taylor, who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency. From the get-go, the team's brass made it clear that Harrison was going to start in the opener and the time has come.
The former Oklahoma Sooner is switching sides, having played left tackle in college. However, the transition has been smooth and signs point toward him being able to hold the fort against Indianapolis' pass rushers.
Back in training camp, Harrison was dealing with a shoulder injury that slowed him down in training camp. The fact that he didn't appear on the Injury Report and is a full-go against the Colts should be a reason for optimism.
No. 2 Jaguars player who must show out vs. the Colts in Week 1: Tyson Campbell, CB
The Colts don't have many viable targets in the passing game, which tips the scale in the Jaguars' favor. Michael Pittman Jr. will most likely be Anthony Richardson's top target. While he's a fine player, he's not the kind that can take over games, at least not at this stage of his career.
Opposite Pittman is sophomore Alec Pierce, who had a solid sophomore campaign but isn't the kind of threat that will keep defensive coordinators awake the day before the game. If cornerback Tyson Campbell manages to contain Pittman and erases one half of the field, he'll make it difficult for Richardson to have a memorable NFL season debut.
No. 1 Jaguars player who must shine vs. the Colts in Week 1: Christian Kirk,
Wide receiver Calvin Ridley is getting lots of attention in his journey back to greatness. So far, he's been everything the Jaguars expected and then some. The Colts are taking notice and one big part of their strategy Sunday will involve slowing him down.
Heading into the game, Colts defensive coordinator Gus Bradley noted that "the addition of Calvin Ridley creates uncertainty as a coordinator when it comes to building a game plan for the Jags." Don't be surprised if Indy tries to double Ridley on every play. Similarly, expect him to win many of those matchups.
Bradley pointing out that the addition of Calvin Ridley creates uncertainty as a coordinator when it comes to building a game plan for the Jags.
— Joel A. Erickson (@JoelAErickson) September 5, 2023
Having said that, the attention Ridley will draw will leave fellow receiver Christian Kirk with lots of favorable matchups. If Kirk takes advantage of his opportunities, the Jags could build a significant lead early on and not look back.