Jaw-dropping catch vs. Chiefs is helping Jaguars Brian Thomas Jr. gain momentum

The Jacksonville Jaguars put together a convincing win vs. the Chiefs in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL Preseason. While there were a few subpar performances, several players were able to turn heads. Wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. certainly did when quarterback C.J. Beathard found him for a 41-yard completion. The catch has been one of many the rookie has had and offensive coordinator Press Taylor believes it could be a sign of things to come.

Taylor met with the local media and talked about how Thomas' reception against the Chiefs could lay the foundation for the future.

"Yeah, I think that catch can go a long way. You saw kind of the energy that he had after the catch," Taylor told the local media. "And then what the cool part was everybody kind of kind of erupts at that time. You saw the guys go wild for him, come on the field, give him a high five, all that type of deal because we've seen that partially. We see that skill set flash all the time. He makes plays here and there. He's done it through spring, done it through camp, and guys are just excited for him."

"Anytime a rookie comes in, puts his head down, works hard. Guys can root for that. And everybody wants him to have success, like all of our guys. When a guy makes a play like that, it's a good thing for him moving forward, but for everybody around him as well to see that and believe in him.

Following the departure of Calvin RIdley in free agency, the Jags had a need at wide receiver. While they showed interest in Rome Odunze and Malik Nabers — two of the big 3, Marvin Harrison Jr. was the other — they would've had to trade into the top 10. That could've turned out to be costly. Instead, they moved down six spots from No. 17 to No. 23 and drafted Thomas. Along the way, they acquired extra assets.

A deep threat in college, Thomas wasn't as highly regarded as Nabers, his former teammate, but was still projected to go in the first round. One big reason was his ability to stretch the field. In his last season at LSU, he hauled in 68 receptions for 1,177 yards with 17 touchdowns. Moreover, he averaged a stunning 17.3 yards per reception. Running the 40-yard in 4.33 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine corroborated just how fast he is.

Thomas was a standout in offseason workouts but got off to a rough start to training camp. However, he progressively got better and began to flash the talent that made him a staple of the Tigers offense. Just before the game against the Chiefs, the Louisiana native reeled in a reception that proved his deep-threat capability could translate into the NFL.

Then, the preseason opener came, and Thomas did it, he had a 41-yard reception on third-and-1. His teammates immediately got hyped up, as Taylor noted when he met with the local beat.

Brian Thomas is in a position to have an impact for the Jaguars in 2024

It isn't discussed nearly often enough but besides outstanding physical skills, players need mental fortitude to thrive in the NFL. If they struggle early on, self-doubt could creep. Conversely, they can gain confidence by making plays and getting support from their teammates. That's why Brian Thomas Jr.'s catch in the preseason opener is so meaningful.

Not only did Thomas show that he can be the player the Jaguars envisioned when they drafted him but it also demonstrated that his teammates are rooting for him to succeed.

Even though preseason wins and stats don't carry over into the regular season, Thomas realizes how important of a milestone his reception in the opener was. But he isn't resting on his laurels. Heading into the Preseason Week 2 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he continues to make plays.

Brian Thomas Jr. still has a long way to go but the Jacksonville Jaguars should be encouraged by the early returns. He'll get a chance to take another step forward in Week 2 of the preseason.

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