Since returning from injury in Week 13, Jacksonville Jaguars’ wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. has left his mark on the passing game.
Thomas Jr. missed several games with an ankle injury.
In Tennessee, Thomas Jr. caught two passes for 28 yards. Against Indianapolis, he caught three passes for 87 yards.
“I think just getting healthier,” Coen said of Thomas Jr. on Monday. “As a wideout and you’ve got an ankle, it’s hard. It’s hard to feel confident probably going out and cutting and running and stopping and making plays. I think right now he just feels better. He feels healthier.”
Thomas Jr. has provided the Jaguars’ passing game with some needed explosiveness. However, his impact is also going beyond his own column on the stat sheet.
It’s likely not a coincidence either that since Thomas Jr. has returned, other members of the Jaguars’ passing game have generated more explosive plays as well.
In Sunday’s win, Tim Patrick had receptions of 37 yards and 26 yards. The week before in Tennessee, Jakobi Meyers had a 50-yard catch, Parker Washington a 26-yard catch, and Brenton Strange a 21-yard catch.
A player of Thomas Jr.’s caliber, who possesses the speed he does, is going to draw the attention of defenders. This, in turn, can create opportunities for others within the offense to exploit.
” He’s been practicing hard. He’s been practicing at full speed,” Coen said. “Him and the quarterback — Trevor — have worked at it, like they’ve worked, they’ve put time into it. And it showed up yesterday in a big way for us.
“That’s an area of our offense that has been much needed, and to have it show up yesterday was such a good thing to see for us moving forward, for our confidence as a group. When you can attack, like I said, every blade of grass, you’re just becoming that much more difficult to defend.”
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars Liam Coen weighs in on Brian Thomas Jr.’s play since returning
Reporting by Paul Bretl, Jaguars Wire / Jaguars Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
