Jaguars Stand by Brian Thomas Jr. as Production Lags
The Jaguars have just two games and 15 days to decide what to do with wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.
The NFL trade deadline is rapidly approaching, with teams having until Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. to make decisions that will impact the trajectory and success of the rest of their season. And at the forefront of the Jaguars’ (4-2) trade conversation is Thomas, who has struggled to produce at a high level this season.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Saturday that multiple league executives believe Jacksonville will seriously consider trading Thomas at the deadline. However, around the same time, Jaguars vice president Tony Boselli told Action Sports Jax that Thomas “is a Jaguar,” and is going to help the team.
Jaguars coach Liam Coen also gave no indication the team is ready to move on from him when he addressed the media Monday.
“He’s going to be able to help us make plays this week, I bet it, I know it,” Coen said. “We’re going to continue to support him and put our arm around him and continue to do what we got to do to make plays on Sundays, and we got to continue to put him in the best position to do so.”
Thomas has shown potential to be a star wide receiver in his NFL career. In his rookie season in 2024, he was a Pro Bowl Selection, AP Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team behind a career-high 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns on 87 receptions, a standard he hasn’t been able to reach again.
In 2025, his production dipped to 707 yards and two touchdowns on 48 catches. This season, he’s grabbed just nine of his 19 targets for 105 yards and a touchdown.
Thomas has been targeted more infrequently than in past seasons, and hasn’t been able to do much with the looks he’s gotten. Thomas was targeted 133 times in his rookie season and 91 times in 2025. His 19 targets this year point to decreased looks from quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Against the Eagles, he had his least desirable outing, catching none of his three targets. And against the Texans in Week 6, it was much of the same. He missed both of his targets in the first half, clearly dropping one, and was benched for the rest of the contest.
Expected to be one of the faces of the wide receiver corps alongside Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers, Thomas’ lack of production has forced other pass catchers like rookie Josh Cameron to step up in big ways.
But Coen said that is part of what makes the team competitive.
“Every week’s different,” Coen said. “That’s what’s kind of special about this group is that every week you get new people stepping up and making plays, and he’s no different.”
Nonetheless, the team will look for Thomas to revert to his rookie-season form coming out of the open date. And while the Indianapolis Colts (2-5) have struggled to find their footing so far this season, their defense does not provide the perfect conditions for a bounce back. Their pass defense has been solid, allowing 215.9 yards per game in the air, ranked 13th in the NFL.
The Jaguars face the Baltimore Ravens in their following matchup, and stare down another solid defensive opponent. The Ravens allow 220.9 passing yards per game (16th in the NFL).
“BT works at it,” Coen said. “He cares about this. He cares about winning and losing. Cares about his team. We all want to see guys have success individually, but I’m excited about attacking this week with BT.”
Category: Feature Sports News, Jacksonville Jaguars, NFL
