Jacksonville Jaguars

When the Jacksonville Jaguars took Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 pick of the 2021 NFL draft, the last month is what they envisioned.

During that span, Lawrence has catapulted the Jags from a major deficit in the AFC South to the edge of the playoff race. He's tallied a trio of 300-yard, three-touchdown performances while leading three fourth-quarter comebacks and also defeating a key division rival. He is the single most impactful reason that Jacksonville is winning games.

Lawrence's much-anticipated breakout stretch is here, and it might just result in an improbable postseason bid.

Four weeks ago, the Tennessee Titans held a commanding edge in the AFC South. At 7-3, they had a four-game lead over the 3-7 Jaguars, who had just lost their fifth straight game and were behind the reeling 4-6-1 Indianapolis Colts.

The Jaguars beat the Las Vegas Raiders to begin November, but the Raiders have struggled through most of this season. That result led more to criticism of Vegas than praise for Jacksonville.

But after an unsurprising loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and a bye week, the Jags' trajectory has done a complete 180. After three wins in their past four games, they're merely a game behind the Titans in the AFC South and quietly two back in the wild-card race.

Jacksonville's remaining schedule is favorable, with only the New York Jets, Houston Texans and Titans left to play. The Jags' path to the playoffs is firmly in their control.

That's largely a credit to Lawrence.

Lawrence opened this month-plus hot streak with 321 passing yards and three touchdowns in a stunning 28-27 win over the Baltimore Ravens. Jacksonville scored 18 points in the fourth quarter, recovering from a 19-10 deficit and sealing the victory with a touchdown and two-point conversion in the closing seconds.

JAGUARS BEAT THE RAVENS

Trevor Lawrence found Marvin Jones Jr. for a TD + 2-pt conversion and the WIN! 🔥@NFL | #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/5QsT0cJgIV

— FanDuel Sports Network (@FanDuelSN) November 27, 2022

They followed that up with an ugly loss against the Detroit Lions, but they responded with an emphatic win at Tennessee and comeback victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Lawrence accounted for 339-plus total yards and four touchdowns in both triumphs.

Those numbers only begin to tell the story, though.

Lawrence has settled into the quarterback-friendly offense that new head coach Doug Pederson installed this season. Stable coaching from Pederson has quickly minimized the potential long-term danger that then-Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer posed to Lawrence's development last year.

Smarter decisions have fueled Lawrence's ascent. Since the beginning of November, he leads the NFL with a 70.4 completion rate, per CBS Sports, and he has tossed only one interception in 223 attempts.

Lawrence is taking fewer risks compared to his frustrating rookie campaign. Pressure may still lead to mistakes, but he's more comfortable dealing with blitzes and has been clinical in clean pockets.

Plus, the Clemson product has regularly started to hit big passes on the move. Against the Cowboys, his 59-yard touchdown throw to Zay Jones kickstarted the 17-point comeback.

.@TrevorLawrencee 59-yard TOUCHDOWN strike to @ZayJones11

📺: #DALvsJAX on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/rZZZ8aG10V pic.twitter.com/DAb2IoHs0O

— NFL (@NFL) December 18, 2022

Because of his surge, the Jaguars are on the brink of stealing the AFC South from the Titans.

Tennessee has now lost four straight games, including its Week 14 letdown at home to Jacksonville. While the Titans also play the Texans, the upcoming Week 17 clash with the Cowboys is a bad matchup for a Tennessee offense that has cracked 20 points only twice since the Week 6 bye.

If the Jags at least match Tennessee during the next two weeks, they'll be headed for a winner-take-all showdown in the regular-season finale at home against the Titans.

Even if the Titans snap out of their extended slump, the Jags could impact the wild-card race, too. They could hand the Jets a crushing loss, practically eliminating them because of their disadvantages in tiebreakers.

The Jaguars can lose to Tennessee and still technically have a shot at a wild-card berth at 8-9. They'd remain in play if either the Miami Dolphins or Los Angeles Chargers lose out, the Jets fall to the Seattle Seahawks, the New England Patriots finish 1-2 (with a victory over Miami) and none of the Raiders, Cleveland Browns or Pittsburgh Steelers win out.

However, success for Jacksonville in 2022 will not be judged on whether a playoff trip happens. This season was all about adapting to a new coach, unlocking a better version of Lawrence and building around him.

Check, check and check.

Jacksonville isn't close to a finished product. Nearly every fourth-quarter lead still haunts seasoned fans who've endured late-game collapses throughout the franchise's history. Heck, the Jags squandered a handful of leads before Lawrence spurred this hot streak.

For the first time in a half-decade, though, the Jaguars have serious hope for the future.

They're a win over Houston away from defeating every AFC South opponent at least once, which hadn't happened since 2010. They're more competitive on a weekly basis, including against playoff-caliber teams. They're eager for the debut of suspended wideout Calvin Ridley, whom they acquired ahead of the trade deadline, in 2023.

And they have a young quarterback who is performing at the level of a legitimate star.

The future is bright in Jacksonville. Thanks to Lawrence's torrid month, that future might arrive a year early.

Josh Lambo's lawsuit against the Jacksonville Jaguars was dismissed with prejudice by Florida 4th Circuit Court Judge Gilbert Feltel Jr. last week, according to Mark Long of the Associated Press.

Lambo, a former punter for the Jaguars, was seeking damages and back pay after accusing former head coach Urban Meyer of causing him emotional distress and the Jaguars of having a hostile workplace environment.

In December 2021, Lambo told Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times that Meyer kicked him during a training camp practice in August of that year.

"I'm in a lunge position. Left leg forward, right leg back," Lambo said. "Urban Meyer, while I'm in that stretch position, comes up to me and says, 'Hey, Dips--t, make your f--king kicks!' And kicks me in the leg."

"It certainly wasn't as hard [a kick] as he could've done it, but it certainly wasn't a love tap," he continued. "Truthfully, I'd register it as a five [out of 10]. Which in the workplace, I don't care if it's football or not, the boss can't strike an employee. And for a second, I couldn't believe it actually happened. Pardon my vulgarity, I said, ‘Don't you ever f--king kick me again!' And his response was: 'I'm the head ball coach. I'll kick you whenever the f--k I want.'"

The Jaguars sought to have Lambo's case thrown out, arguing he was released for performance-related reasons in October 2021 and not because he spoke out against Meyer or the team. Lambo countered that he informed Jacksonville's legal department of the kick by Meyer and therefore his lawsuit fell under Florida’s Whistleblower Act.

The team also argued that Lambo's lawsuit "fails to show Meyer’s actions were committed within the scope of his employment or ratified by the team."

Meyer was fired with cause by the Jaguars in December 2021, just 13 games into his tenure as head coach and mere hours after Stroud's story—which included Lambo's accusations—went public. The firing hadn't come as a surprise, as a number of controversies had tainted Meyer's tenure as head coach even before Lambo's allegations went public.

Lambo's attorney, Betsy Brown, said Wednesday she intends to revise and resubmit her client's lawsuit.

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said he's aiming to reduce the workload for running back Travis Etienne Jr. after a 30-touch game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Pederson explained discussions within the coaching staff have centered around more involvement for backup rusher JaMycal Hasty, who was claimed off waivers from the San Francisco 49ers in August.

"I think we could use him more," Pederson told reporters Monday. "He's a really good runner. We were talking about that as a staff this morning, on how we can utilize him a little bit more and maybe take some off of Travis just a little bit."

Etienne was selected by the Jags in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft, but he missed his entire rookie season after suffering a foot injury during the preseason that required surgery.

In January, the dual-threat playmaker explained it was still a productive first year since he was able to develop the mental side of the game despite being unable to play with what he described as his "first-ever injury."

"I think being in the meetings every day, it helped me in a way, helped me in a sense because I felt like I was a part of it," Etienne said. "I feel like I was a part of everything. I was like a little kid going to the birthday, but I just couldn't have any birthday cake."

He's proceeded to tally 854 yards from scrimmage and four total touchdowns in nine appearances this season.

The 23-year-old Louisiana native enjoyed a standout college career alongside Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence at Clemson. He was voted the ACC Player of the Year twice and earned three appearances on the first-team All-ACC squad.

Hasty and rookie Snoop Conner, a fifth-round pick awaiting his first NFL touch, could both see more work in the coming games to help lessen the burden on the Jaguars' starter.

Etienne has started to become a key offensive weapon for the Jags, both on the ground and through the air, as they attempt to turn a corner in their rebuilding efforts. The team has equaled its three wins from last season and still has eight games left. Staying healthy for extended stretches will be an important part of the equation, though.

A lesser week-to-week workload would likely help him stay off the injury report.

The Jacksonville Jaguars "have been assured that [wide receiver Calvin] Ridley is working out as if he had a game Sunday and will be ready to roll once reinstated," according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Ridley is serving an indefinite suspension after he bet on games last year, with his ban covering the entire 2022 season at a minimum. The Jaguars are unable to contact him while he's suspended.

Because of his status, Jacksonville's trade came as a surprise.

"We're confident in the due diligence that we did, who we talked to or what," general manager Trent Baalke told reporters. "We're confident in the work that we did and we feel very good about the decision to trade for Calvin."

Ridley had a career year in 2020, catching 90 passes for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns. He was limited to just five games in 2021, however, announcing last October he was stepping away from the team to focus on his mental health.

The Jaguars were aggressive in the offseason and focused part of their spending spree on addressing the passing game. Christian Kirk, Zay Jones and Evan Engram all arrived to help get Trevor Lawrence's development back on track.

Lawrence hasn't taken a big jump in Year 2, though. He has thrown for 1,840 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions through two starts. Per Pro Football Reference, his QBR has improved only slightly from 33.5 in 2021 to 45.6.

Ridley obviously isn't going to help the offense now, but he could be a big addition if he's reinstated for the 2023 campaign.

The trades are continuing to come in fast and furious ahead of Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET trade deadline.

The latest is something of a stunner, as the Atlanta Falcons dealt suspended wide receiver Calvin Ridley to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a series of conditional draft considerations, as outlined by the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport:

There are conditions attached to this trade for Calvin Ridley. If he gets reinstated bye a date, it’s worth a 2023 5th, otherwise it's for a 6th. If he makes the team in 2024, it’s at least a 4th. If he hits play-time milestone, it’s a 3rd. If Jax get a long-term done, it’s a 2. https://t.co/RThnpL1ioO

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 1, 2022

Ridley, 27, was suspended at minimum for the entirety of the 2022 season in March after it was discovered he bet on NFL games in the 2021 campaign while he was on the non-football illness list and not playing.

Calvin Ridley is suspended in part because he bet the #Falcons to beat the #Jaguars last season.

Now he's on the #Jaguars. Un-freakin-real.

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 1, 2022

He cannot apply for reinstatement until Feb. 15, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

His eventual return to action will give the Jaguars a dangerous, field-stretching option at wide receiver. Ridley's last full season came in 2020, when he posted 90 catches for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns, emerging as one of the game's most potent playmakers.

The Jaguars have zero verticality to their offense this season

Some of that is playcalling. Some of that is talent.

Nothing to stretch the field. Nothing explosive.

Enter Calvin Ridley, who was 2nd in the NFL in 20+ yard targets in 2020 (36)

— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) November 1, 2022

The Jags really need a bigger-play receiver moving forward after they overspent on mediocre options this offseason. Ridley can be that.

I like this bet. https://t.co/AG5mnutQ85

— Ian Valentino (@NFLDraftStudy) November 1, 2022

The duo of Ridley and Christian Kirk, paired with promising running back Travis Etienne Jr., will give Trevor Lawrence a solid suite of weapons. Tight end Evan Engram has also had a resurgent year in Jacksonville, though he'll be a free agent after the 2022 campaign.

After a promising 2-1 start to the season, the Jags have lost five straight and once again find themselves in the running for the top overall pick in the NFL draft. Only the Houston Texans (1-5-1) and Detroit Lions (1-6) have worse records.

Ridley won't be available to the Jags this season, and it remains to be seen if he'll be reinstated ahead of the 2023 campaign. But if or when he's able to play, he'll provide a pretty significant upgrade at wide receiver, a major plus for the ongoing development of Lawrence.

Saturday's game between the Florida Gators and Georgia Bulldogs in Jacksonville was marred by an antisemitic message displayed on the exterior of TIAA Bank Field after the game.

Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan issued a statement condemning the message, calling it "hurtful and wrong" and "asking everyone to make it their mission to end the ignorance and hatred."

pic.twitter.com/p33peR4zTJ

— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) October 30, 2022

Per Vic Micolucci of WJXT 4 in Jacksonville, a projected message reading "Kanye was right about the Jews" was displayed on the bottom of a scoreboard outside of the stadium.

The message was in reference to recent antisemitic comments and social media posts made by Kanye West, who is now legally known as Ye.

The Gators and Bulldogs issued a joint statement after the game condemning the message displayed at TIAA Bank Field and "the other anti-Semitic messages that have appeared around Jacksonville."

Joint statement from UF-UGA regarding antisemitic hate speech. pic.twitter.com/vHrs36M7e5

— Florida Gators (@FloridaGators) October 30, 2022

Per Brie Isom of News4JAX, there have been several appearances of antisemitic rhetoric in the Jacksonville area in the wake of Ye's comments.

"Another antisemitic message displayed on banners that read 'End Jewish Supremacy in America' and 'Honk if you know it’s the Jews' hung from an overpass on the Westside, just off Chaffee Road and Interstate 10," Isom wrote.

Recently, Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving has been roundly criticized for sharing a link on Twitter to a documentary called Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America.

Per Jon Blistein of Rolling Stone, the movie and book it's based on are "stuffed with antisemitic tropes."

Nets governor Joe Tsai condemned Irving's apparent support of the film and book.

"I want to sit down and make sure he understands this is hurtful to all of us, and as a man of faith, it is wrong to promote hate based on race, ethnicity or religion," Tsai wrote.

The NBA issued a vague statement without mentioning Irving specifically, calling hate speech of any kind "unacceptable" and "counter to the NBA's values of equality, inclusion and respect."

Irving issued an apology on Twitter but reacted in a hostile manner during a postgame press conference Saturday when he was questioned about using his platform to highlight a book and documentary that uses antisemitic tropes and his previous sharing of videos of Alex Jones conspiracy theories.

Florida and Georgia have played 101 games against each other dating back to 1904. The rivalry has been played on a neutral field in Jacksonville since 1933, with the exception of one game in 1995.

Two days away from the NFL trade deadline, a number of difference-making defensive players could find themselves on new teams soon.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, multiple teams have called the Denver Broncos about linebacker Bradley Chubb, including one that is willing to trade its first-round pick and additional compensation.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo added that opposing teams believe Chubb is the "most likely" Broncos player to be dealt before the deadline, but Denver won't do it unless it gets "the perfect offer."

Carolina Panthers defensive end Brian Burns was another marquee name Rapoport, Pelissero and Garafolo cited. Schefter reported last week the Panthers had already turned down an offer of two first-round picks for the 24-year-old.

According to the NFL Network report, the Panthers intend to keep Burns with the goal of extending him "in part to make sure the next head coach has plenty of talent to work with." They did note that general manager Scott Fitterer will always take calls, but a team would have to increase the offer from two first-round draft picks to entice him to make the move.

After Robert Quinn's trade to the Philadelphia Eagles on Wednesday, linebacker Roquan Smith's future with the Chicago Bears became a hot topic of discussion. The 25-year-old requested a trade during the offseason because of his unhappiness with how the Bears were handling extension talks.

According to Rapoport, Pelissero and Garafolo, there are a select group of teams with a need at inside linebacker that could pursue Smith. But the Bears could be inclined to franchise-tag him for at least one more season as they try to negotiate a long-term deal.

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Allen has also been discussed, but it doesn't sound like a deal will happen before the deadline.

"Allen remains a key and valued piece of their future," Rapoport, Pelissero and Garafolo wrote. "He's a player Jacksonville wants to keep rather than trade and then attempt to replace. He would be due just $10.892 million in 2023 on his fifth-year option and in line for a big extension sooner than later."

Based on their positional value and production, Burns, Chubb and Allen would likely be the most impactful players moved if any of them were to get dealt.

Burns has one year remaining on his rookie deal that will pay him $16 million in 2023. He has eight tackles for loss and five sacks for the Panthers.

Chubb has eight quarterback hits and 5.5 sacks in seven starts this season.

Allen has 11 quarterback hits, five tackles for loss and three sacks in seven games. He would likely bring back more in a trade than Chubb by virtue of having one year remaining on his rookie contract.

Often, the NFL trade deadline ends up being a lot more smoke than fire. But with Christian McCaffrey and Quinn having already been dealt, teams vying for a playoff spot could be more aggressive in a season with so much parity around the league.

The trade deadline is Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.

The NFL trade market has been vibrant ahead of Tuesday's deadline, and teams continue to monitor potentially available pass-rushers.

That includes the Jacksonville Jaguars' Josh Allen, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler:

The Robert Quinn trade brings pass-rusher into focus entering NFL trade deadline. Teams are assuming Panthers keep Brian Burns but are watching Bradley Chubb situation in Denver closely. Another name that has garnered interest from teams: Jacksonville's Josh Allen.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) October 27, 2022

Allen, 25, has had a solid season, registering 19 tackles (five for loss), three sacks, 11 quarterback hits and two forced fumbles. The No. 7 pick in the 2019 draft has never quite matched the impact of his rookie season, when he posted 10.5 sacks, though he's still a dangerous presence off the edge.

The Jaguars picked up the fifth-year option on his rookie deal, so he's under contract through next season, which carries an $11.5 million salary.

While the Jaguars have started 2-5, they've shown real promise. Trading running back James Robinson may have put up a smoke signal around the NFL that the team was open for business, though that felt like dealing from a position of strength, with young talent Travis Etienne Jr. available at running back.

Trading Allen would come as a much bigger surprise. Pass-rusher is a far more premium position than running back, and the Jaguars have him under contract for one more season and seemingly could still come to terms on a long-term extension with the three-time defensive captain.

You’re just creating a bigger need if you trade him. That’s probably the team’s least depth-filled position. Again, makes no sense to me.

They have an injury there too with Chaisson on IR. They’re last in sack % and would become a black hole in that metric if they did the trade

— Demetrius Harvey (@Demetrius82) October 27, 2022

For a team that has struggled getting to the quarterback—the Jags are tied for 27th in the NFL with just 11 sacks—getting rid of an edge-rusher doesn't make a ton of sense unless they are punting on the season or the return is so great it's a deal they can't refuse.

Perhaps they will be blown away by an offer. But if not, keeping Allen makes more sense for the Jaguars.

In the wake of a season-ending injury to star rookie running back Breece Hall, the New York Jets reportedly made a swift move to fortify their backfield.

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Jets are set to acquire running back James Robinson from the Jacksonville Jaguars for draft pick compensation. Connor Hughes of SNY reported that Jacksonville will receive a sixth-round pick that can become a fifth-rounder. ESPN's Adam Schefter added that it would be a fifth-round pick if Robinson rushes for 600 yards this season.

Hall's promising rookie season ended when he suffered a torn ACL and meniscus injury in Sunday's 16-9 win over the Denver Broncos. The 21-year-old was electrifying in seven games, rushing for 463 yards and four touchdowns with 19 catches for 218 yards and another score. His 681 scrimmage yards rank seventh in the NFL.

Robinson made a name for himself as a rookie in 2020 when he ran for 1,070 yards and seven touchdowns. His 1,414 yards from scrimmage marked a record for an undrafted player. The 24-year-old had a strong showing last year before he tore his Achilles against the Jets in December.

This season, Robinson has split carries with second-year running back Travis Etienne Jr. He rushed for 340 yards and three touchdowns on 81 carries in seven games, reaching 100 yards once, in a Week 3 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. He carried the ball 12 times or fewer in each of the next four games, including Sunday against the New York Giants when he didn't register a carry despite being active for the game.

Robinson is expected to pair with second-year running back Michael Carter. The Jets typically employed Hall and Carter in two-back sets, but Hall quickly established himself as the No. 1 option. While Robinson is likely to play behind Carter early on, it appears he will have the opportunity to fill Hall's role.

The Jets are one of the surprises of the season with a 5-2 record, but the injury to Hall was a major blow and was coupled with a season-ending torn triceps for standout offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker.

The Jets will go for their fifth straight victory when they host the New England Patriots on Sunday.