AFC South

The Jacksonville Jaguars have fired head coach Urban Meyer.

"After deliberation over many weeks and a thorough analysis of the entirety of Urban's tenure with our team, I am bitterly disappointed to arrive at the conclusion that an immediate change is imperative for everyone," Jaguars owner Shad Khan said early Thursday, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

"I informed Urban of the change this evening. As I stated in October, regaining our trust and respect was essential. Regrettably, it did not happen," Khan stated.

He continued: "In the spirit of closure and recharging our players, staff and fanbase, I will not comment further until some point following the conclusion of the NFL season."

He also said: "Trent Baalke continues as our general manager and will work with [interim head coach and ex-offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell] to ensure that our team will be inspired and competitive while representing Jacksonville proudly over our final four games of the season."

The 51-year-old Bevell, who has worked as an offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions, will take the Jags over for the remainder of 2021.

He was also the Lions' interim head coach to end 2020 after former head coach Matt Patricia was fired. Bevell went 1-4 over the last five games.

The team posted a 2-11 record during Meyer's brief time on the sideline, and his departure comes soon after former Jaguars kicker Josh Lambo told Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times that Meyer kicked him and cursed at him during warm-ups for a practice in the preseason this year.

Former Jaguars kicker Josh Lambo tells @NFLSTROUD that Urban Meyer kicked him during an August warmup this preseason https://t.co/JoN0UDdVz1 pic.twitter.com/aqFS4HScCL

— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) December 15, 2021

That came after a series of missteps following his hiring in January.

Recently, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero painted an unflattering portrait of Meyer's tenure:

But sources say Meyer's repeated public comments shifting blame to players and coaches amid the team's 2-10 season have exacerbated frustration in the building with his hard-charging and sometimes condescending approach -- a style that many observers believed wouldn't work in the NFL even before the Jaguars hired him.

Meyer also reportedly said during a staff meeting that "he's a winner and his assistant coaches are losers." He disputed that rumor following Jacksonville's 20-0 loss to the Tennessee Titans:

"Calling someone a loser, that's inaccurate. I have high expectations for our coaches - I'm very demanding of our coaches."

Jaguars HC Urban Meyer on the dysfunction around the team pic.twitter.com/ndmnkznVXZ

— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) December 12, 2021

In general, this move has been a long time coming.

A video showing a woman dancing close to Meyer's lap went viral on social media in October. He apologized days later, saying he had stayed behind after his team's road loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and gone out to dinner with his family before the scenes depicted in the video occurred.

Urban Meyer apologizes for "being a distraction" to the Jaguars following a viral video of him at a bar that circulated over the weekend pic.twitter.com/13ZrcsbQ2R

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) October 4, 2021

Khan issued a statement saying Meyer's behavior was "inexcusable" and that he "must regain our trust and respect."

pic.twitter.com/5xDtupdi7B

— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) October 5, 2021

In a vacuum, that story arguably wasn't grounds for dismissal, and it likely would have blown over eventually. But NFL Network's Michael Silver reported the situation exacerbated internal discord in Jacksonville:

2) Players were particularly put off by the fact that Meyer canceled Monday's team meeting, as he dealt with the uproar over the videos of him and a young woman getting cozy in that Ohio bar. 'He even canceled the team meeting. He was too scared,' a player said.

— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) October 5, 2021

5 Bottom line, said the player: 'It's bad. I don't know how he's gonna function.'

— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) October 5, 2021

From the moment Jacksonville was linked to Meyer in the offseason, many were skeptical the partnership would work even though pairing an adept offensive mind with a young quarterback (Trevor Lawrence) made sense in theory.

The 57-year-old resigned from Florida in late 2009 for health reasons—returning to the school for one more season. He also cited his health as one of the factors leading him to walk away from Ohio State in 2018.

The Athletic's Stewart Mandel recounted his past interactions with Meyer and described him as "a man who takes losses harder than any coach I've ever encountered."

Now, the legendary coach was taking a job where a team can lose six or seven games and still make the playoffs. It only took two defeats before he made a public pledge to turn things around:

A message for #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/fmB3RGRexX

— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) September 20, 2021

Meyer also struggled with the culture shift from college to the NFL.

Jacksonville badly misread the room when it announced the impending hire of Chris Doyle as the director of sports performance. Beyond his lack of experience at the pro level, he left Iowa amid allegations he made racist comments and showed racial bias against Black Hawkeyes players.

Doyle quickly resigned, and Meyer acknowledged he "saw the impact of the decision and the distraction it caused."

And the Jaguars hadn't even kicked off the regular season before CBSSports.com's Jason La Canfora reported in September that "Meyer's ability to adapt to the NFL game and make a smooth transition from college is a topic of considerable debate in league circles":

There have been repeated issues with other coaches on staff, with Meyer's temper and lack of familiarity with the ebbs and flows of the NFL calendar rubbing the Jacksonville Jaguars staff and players the wrong way, the sources said. There is a disconnect at times between the members of the staff with extensive pro experience and those who lack it, and morale has suffered as the outbursts have continued. His fiery remarks to players and coaches after games have already struck many as bizarre.

Some coaches have found success in the NFL after thriving at the college level. It quickly became apparent that Meyer wouldn't be joining that group.

For the Jaguars, his hiring was a clear mistake, and admitting that error now is at least better than keeping him on the sideline and waiting for things to change.

It's probably too late for another coach to reverse Jacksonville's fortunes this year, but the organization now has the opportunity to reset its future while still building around Lawrence.

"It's not a vacation, it's a bye."

That was the message from Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich during Wednesday's episode of Hard Knocks in Season: The Indianapolis Colts. While the team was on a bye for this week's shortened episode, the preparation for a December playoff run took center stage.

Whether it was Reich telling the players he believed they are the best team in the AFC or the stark reminder that the only team photos gracing the wall of the Colts' practice facility are the ones of squads that make the postseason, it was clear what time of year it was in Indianapolis.

Frank Reich channels @MikeTyson to keep things in perspective.

New episode of #HardKnocks: In Season with the @Colts tonight at 10pm ET on HBO/HBO Max pic.twitter.com/y4ZzGcg4Ak

— NFL (@NFL) December 16, 2021

After all, the Colts are in the middle of the playoff picture thanks to a 7-3 run in their previous 10 games following an 0-3 start. 

They are coming off a dominant 31-0 victory over the Houston Texans and look the part of a contender with their only loss in the last five games coming in heartbreaking fashion during a seven-point defeat to the reigning champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

It wasn't all about football, though, since there was some notable news off the field.

Cornerback Kenny Moore II was named the team's nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, and he was notified of the recognition by his mother during a touching moment.

A proud moment 😌

Congrats @KennyKennyMoe3!#WPMOYChallenge | #HardKnocks pic.twitter.com/EI7HJiGUNG

— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) December 16, 2021

A previous episode of Hard Knocks delved into the time Moore met Mason Garvey, who was a child with Stage 4 cancer. The two became close before Garvey died in 2020, but Moore remains friends with the family and even spent Thanksgiving with them this year.

He has raised tens of thousands of dollars to support pediatric palliative care through the Mighty Mason Fund. He also recognized the fund with his My Cause, My Cleats choice and has supported a number of charitable causes during his time in Indianapolis.

Moore has also helped raise money for the Tyler Trent Foundation to support cancer research and has supported the team's "Kicking the Stigma" initiative to raise awareness for the importance of taking mental health seriously.

Mental health was in the spotlight during Wednesday's episode.

Linebacker Darius Leonard opened up about the loss of his brother, and members of the Irsay family explained the importance of the "Kicking the Stigma" movement that aims to remove the stigma that is far too often associated with mental health struggles.

"I realized that I needed to change my life."@dsleon45 talks through how he prioritized his mental health after losing his brother ❤️

New episode of #HardKnocks: In Season with the @Colts tomorrow at 10pm ET on HBO/HBO Max pic.twitter.com/d94ACpAakP

— NFL (@NFL) December 14, 2021

The @Colts are leading the fight for mental health awareness. 💪#HardKnocks pic.twitter.com/G1C43aiCnf

— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) December 16, 2021

The Irsay family practiced what they preached and closed the team facilities for more than just the players during the bye week. In fact, there was a 72-hour break for every employee of the team to travel and get away, which meant embracing the love of music for owner Jim Irsay and buying his old middle school breakfast for linebacker Zaire Franklin.

Elsewhere, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner visited Disney World with his family, while offensive lineman Braden Smith did a photo shoot with his wife Courtney, who is a wedding photographer.

Correct answer, @BradenSmith72 😅#HardKnocks pic.twitter.com/ukB8GZDVl1

— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) December 16, 2021

Bye for now 👋

See you next week on #HardKnocks pic.twitter.com/NjAyCrZ320

— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) December 16, 2021

Eventually there will be a return to football for the final four games of the regular season.

Indianapolis closes with the New England Patriots, Arizona Cardinals, Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars. It is one of five teams at 7-6 in an AFC wild-card race that also includes the 6-6-1 Pittsburgh Steelers and two 6-7 teams.

One loss could send the Colts plummeting down the standings, but sustained winning will do the exact opposite.

Good thing the players will be fresh for that postseason pursuit after the bye.          

In the latest negative headline surrounding Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer, the team's former kicker, Josh Lambo, alleged the first-year NFL coach kicked him during warm-ups.

"I'm in a lunge position," Lambo told Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. "Left leg forward, right leg back ... 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."

Lambo then said he confronted Meyer about it:

It certainly wasn't as hard as he could've done it, but it certainly wasn't a love tap. 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 kick allegedly happened during a practice leading up to an August preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Lambo said his agent, Richard Irvin, reported it to the team's legal counsel, although the kicker said he does not remember being offered a chance to meet with the counsel. However, the team's legal counsel told Stroud in a statement it offered to speak with Lambo and "any suggestion otherwise is blatantly false."

Meyer denied Lambo's version of events, saying "Josh's characterization of me and this incident is completely inaccurate, and there are eyewitnesses to refute his account. [General manager] Trent [Baalke] and I met with him on multiple occasions to encourage his performance, and this was never brought up. I was fully supportive of Josh during his time with the team and wish him nothing but the best."

The Jaguars have struggled on the field in Meyer's first season with a 2-11 record. What's more, supposed franchise quarterback and 2021 top overall pick Trevor Lawrence has just nine touchdown passes to 14 interceptions.

Yet the turmoil around Meyer has not been limited to the team's play on the field.

In October, videos with a woman dancing against him at a bar spread across social media. His wife, Shelley, was apparently babysitting at the time. This was after he made waves by remaining in Ohio and not flying back with the team following a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Jaguars owner Shad Khan released a statement that said the conduct was "inexcusable" and meant Meyer had to "regain" the team's trust.

Michael Silver reported at the time that a player said Meyer "has zero credibility in that stadium. He had very little to begin with."

On Saturday, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reported "months of tension surrounding Jaguars coach Urban Meyer has boiled over with multiple run-ins with players and other coaches."

Pelissero listed multiple incidents, including a "heated argument" between the coach and veteran wide receiver Marvin Jones. A number of players also reportedly complained to Los Angeles Rams players following a game that the head coach does not treat them like adults.

Perhaps most notably, "during a staff meeting, Meyer delivered a biting message that he's a winner and his assistant coaches are losers, according to several people informed of the contents of the meeting, challenging each coach individually to explain when they've ever won and forcing them to defend their resumes."

As for Lambo, he kicked for the then-San Diego Chargers in 2015 and 2016 before joining the Jaguars. He remained with Jacksonville until he was released after he missed his first three field goals of the 2021 campaign.

The free agent made all five of his field-goal attempts in four games last year and was an impressive 33-of-34 in 2019.

When the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence first overall this past April, it was supposed to be a watershed moment for the franchise. The long-struggling Jaguars finally had themselves an elite quarterback prospect, one from a premier program and one who carried few concerns.

Lawrence was not Blaine Gabbert or Blake Bortles. He was touted as a generational talent who would quickly become the next big thing.

"Lawrence is living up to the hype he received as the top high school quarterback in the country and looks like a Week 1 franchise quarterback with the upside to win multiple MVPs, and only injuries or an incompetent franchise will put him on a path toward failure," Nate Tice of the B/R Scouting Department wrote after the draft.

The 22-year-old has been healthy throughout his inaugural campaign and has played 99 percent of the offensive snaps. However, he has too often been undermined by incompetency—not at the franchise level but at the head coaching level.

For as talented as Lawrence is, he's still a rookie who needs guidance, support and a strong culture to become an elite pro. Rookie head coach Urban Meyer is providing none of that, and if the Jaguars hope to avoid seeing Lawrence become the next Tim Couch or David Carr, something has to change.

            

A Culture Problem

Lawrence was part of a blue-chip program at Clemson, and he was used to winning. Coming to Jacksonville was always going to represent a bit of a culture shock. The Jaguars are not a talented team—they "earned" the No. 1 pick for a reason—and they were going to present something foreign to Lawrence: losing.

By October, he had lost as many games as he had throughout high school and college combined.

Jaguars’ QB Trevor Lawrence now has lost as many NFL games as he did during his entire high school and college careers combined.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 1, 2021

However, this was part of the reason why Jaguars franchise owner Shad Khan hired Meyer. The 57-year-old coach had won at Florida and Ohio State, and he was supposed to know how to implement a winning culture in Jacksonville.

"He's a winner, a leader, and a champion. He's the man we want and need in Jacksonville," Khan said at Meyer's introductory press conference.

Fourteen weeks into the 2021 season, and the culture—or at least the environment—seems to be no better than it was a year ago. The Jags are a two-win team, and Meyer has reportedly clashed with both his players and the coaches he hired—on top of making several questionable decisions.

For all his experience in college, Meyer doesn't seem to "get it" at this level.

It was fair to wonder if Meyer knew what it took to be a pro coach when he signed former Florida player and friend Tim Tebow as a tight end during the offseason—Tebow last played in 2012. Then there was the incident during which Meyer stayed in Ohio following a game against the Cincinnati Bengals instead of flying home with the team.

According to a report from NFL Media's Tom Pelissero, Meyer has since:

• Angered wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. so badly that he left the team facility and had to be coaxed back by other staff members.

• Labeled his assistants as losers, "challenging each coach individually to explain when they've ever won and forcing them to defend their resumes."

• Upset his team to the point that "several" players complained to opponents during the Los Angeles Rams game that they aren't treated like adults.

When asked about Pelissero's report, Meyer bristled at the notion that information came from within the organization.

"That's nonsense. ... If there is a source, that source is unemployed," Meyer said, per John Reid of the Florida Times-Union. "I mean, within seconds, if there's some source that's doing that."

Instead of bringing a winning culture to Jacksonville, Meyer has brought an authoritarian mentality that simply doesn't work at the pro level. He's brought turmoil in the locker room (allegedly) and few positive results.

It's hard to imagine that any of this has convinced Lawrence that losing is part of the process, that things are going to get better or that football is going to be fun again. That's a problem.

Football players are professionals, but they're also people. For anyone, in any profession, it's hard to be great at your job when you dread coming to work.

          

On-The-Field Issues

We cannot dismiss the environment Meyer is creating in Jacksonville if it is indeed an unpleasant one—and to be fair to Meyer, these "leaks" could be unfounded. However, it would be easier to digest any internal issues if the Jaguars, and specifically Lawrence, were showing improvements on the field.

The big problem is that Jacksonville—which just lost 20-0 to the Tennessee Titans—looks as out of sorts as they did in Week 1. The Jaguars rank 27th in points allowed and 31st in scoring. Even if Meyer isn't solely responsible, he hired offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and defensive coordinator Joe Cullen.

And there's a good chance that Meyer has little, if anything, to do with the defense:

#Jaguars HC Urban Meyer was asked about Andre Cisco playing more (again). He said “Cisco is playing a little bit more, I believe, I don’t have his numbers in front of me”

Cisco played 0 defensive snaps yesterday.

— Demetrius Harvey (@Demetrius82) December 13, 2021

The bigger issue is that Meyer is not supporting Lawrence offensively. The lack of talent is an obvious issue, but Meyer has also actively gone away from one of Jacksonville's best players. Running back James Robinson has been benched on two separate occasions after fumbling against the Falcons and Rams, to the dismay of Lawrence.

"I'm playing the game, and stuff happens on the sideline with coaching decisions," Lawrence said, per ESPN's Michael DiRocco. "I don't really get into that, but I know, and I voiced my opinion: James is one of our best players, and he's got to be in the game."

Meyer hinted that Robinson's lack of playing time was injury-related, but he re-entered the Rams game during garbage time. It's also worth noting that Carlos Hyde fumbled against L.A. and saw more snaps than Robinson.

Meyer said that he himself would be "more involved" in game-day personnel decisions moving forward. A week later against Tennessee, Robinson ran only six times for four yards and wasn't targeted in the passing game.

Personnel decisions aside—and regardless of whether Meyer even plays a role in them—Jacksonville needs to do a better job of giving Lawrence easy completions to build his confidence and timing. The Jags also need to improve his protection.

Lawrence has been hit 43 times and has been under pressure on 22.9 percent of his dropbacks.

While one could argue that Bevell is responsible for the offense and deserves the blame, Meyer is the one overseeing the whole operation.

The operation has not benefited Lawrence, who has thrown a league-high 14 interceptions and holds a passer rating of just 68.9. Improvement? We haven't seen it. Lawrence has had a passer rating above 90.0 in only three games, and he's coming off arguably his worst performance of the season.

Against Tennessee, Lawrence finished 24-of-40 for 221 yards and four interceptions. He's still showing rookie tendencies, like chucking balls up for grabs and bailing on plays before they have time to fully develop.

Out of bunch on right, Jones gets open but Lawrence bails rather than stepping up and never sees him pic.twitter.com/6QeHeOTNv7

— Pete Prisco (@PriscoCBS) December 13, 2021

Lawrence should be showing signs of progress, and he isn't. That should be setting off alarm bells in Jacksonville, even if the Jaguars aren't willing to place all of the blame on Meyer.

If Meyer and Bevell cannot adequately develop Lawrence, the Jaguars had better find someone who can get the job done.

            

What are Jacksonville's Options?

If things continue to go south this season and/or players or coaches come forward to firm reports instead of "leaks," the Jaguars and Khan may have no choice but to move on from Meyer. This roster won't improve without an influx of talent, and players won't be eager to join a dicey situation.

Without an upgrade in talent, smart game-planning and a supportive environment, Lawrence won't get better. He won't magically take a sudden leap in Year 2, and if the Jaguars are OK with that, then what are they trying to build?

If they're looking to select another quarterback in three years—like the New York Jets did after drafting and ruining Sam Darnold—then they should stick with the status quo. If not, they need to find a way to save Lawrence from Meyer.

Jacksonville should think long and hard about bringing in an experienced NFL coach like Jim Caldwell or an up-and-coming offensive coach like Eric Bieniemy and pulling the plug on the whole Meyer experiment. However, it seems Khan is willing to be a little more patient with the guy he hired less than a year ago.

According to ESPN, Khan plans to "stay the course" with Meyer—or, at least, that was the case before Sunday.

There is some merit to exercising patience in the NFL. Kliff Kingsbury won just five games in his first season with the Arizona Cardinals with No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray. Now in Year 3, Kingsbury and Murray look like a championship-caliber duo.

But if Khan isn't going to make a coaching change, Jacksonville cannot proceed with this version of Meyer and the situations surrounding him. Khan needs to make it clear that Meyer needs to be more of a pro's coach and more of a pro himself. General manager Trent Baalke needs to remove Meyer from roster decisions.

The Jaguars also need to pull the plug on Bevell, who isn't helping Lawrence grow as a passer. They need to examine other OC options and, preferably, leave Meyer out of that process as much as possible.

Perhaps the Jags could look at Bengals quarterbacks coach Dan Pitcher, who has helped quickly develop Joe Burrow. Perhaps one of Kingsbury's assistants would be willing to come to Jacksonville and help do with Lawrence what the Cardinals have done with Murray.

What Meyer is doing isn't working, and for Lawrence's benefit, the Jaguars cannot allow things to continue as they have.

Then again, Meyer may be so sick of the losing, the criticism and the professional standard asked of him that he walks away on his own.

Mike Vrabel was on Urban Meyer’s coaching staff at Ohio State pic.twitter.com/E5v0xfiQWd

— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) December 12, 2021

Meyer certainly doesn't appear to be enjoying his first season in Jacksonville. It's doubtful anyone else is either.

               

*Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference.

Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan said he's going to take his time evaluating the performance of head coach Urban Meyer amid the team's 2-11 record and rumors of internal strife.

Khan told reporters Monday night he prefers not to make hasty decisions about coaches:

I want to do the right thing for the team. I want to do the right thing for the city. That, to me, is way more important than just acting helter-skelter on emotion. I think we have a history of really looking at the facts and then really doing the right thing.

Gus Bradley was here four years. Doug Marrone was here four years. It was wins and losses and this is a little bit different but, you know, I'm going to reflect on all of that and do what's the right thing for the team and the right thing for the city.

The latest controversy surrounding Meyer began Saturday when Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reported tension within the organization had "boiled over" because of conflicts involving the head coach, his players and members of his coaching staff.

Specifically, Pelissero detailed Meyer's practice argument with wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr., when he was questioned by quarterback Trevor Lawrence about the benching of running back James Robinson in Week 13 and a tense staff meeting where he described his fellow coaches as "losers."

Fox Sports' Jay Glazer later reported Meyer denied the interaction with Jones but admitted there was a meeting where he "got after" his assistant coaches:

The Lions were hit hard this week with positive COVID-19 tests, how many players will be out today? Also, what is the latest with Urban Meyer and the Jaguars? @JayGlazer breaks it all down: pic.twitter.com/yDawZcd3mi

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 12, 2021

The Jags proceeded to lose 20-0 to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

Afterward, Meyer denied describing his assistants as losers and decried the use of anonymous sources in his postgame press conference:

What's the answer [when things are going badly]? Start leaking information or some nonsense? No. No, that's nonsense. That's garbage. I've been very blessed. I've not really dealt with that. I've not dealt with, 'Well, did you hear what he said?' What? No. Let's improve on offense and get our quarterback in a position to be successful. That's our focus.

What someone's brother said, or someone said someone said, that will occupy very little of my time. And if there is a source, that source is unemployed. I mean, within seconds, if there's some source that's doing that.

The latest controversy comes after a situation following the team's Week 4 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, when Meyer stayed behind in his native Ohio after a loss on Thursday Night Football and videos were posted over that weekend on Twitter showing a woman who wasn't his wife dancing on him in a bar.

Khan, who said Monday he's "not impulsive" by nature, pointed out the coach's prior high-end success at the college level and referenced the lens through which he'll make a decision:

In the past it was like you were, quote, it's like the lowly Jaguars, and everyone left you alone. Now the scrutiny we have is really something different. How much of that is we're bringing it upon ourselves, or how much of that is deserved? Urban, he won wherever he was. This is something he's never dealt with.

And when you win in football you create enemies, OK, and the only way you can really deal with that is you've got to win again.

Based on the comments, it seems unlikely Meyer will be fired before the end of the regular season. The Jaguars have four games remaining, starting Sunday with a winnable home game against the Houston Texans (2-11), but have already been eliminated from playoff contention.

Meyer did find plenty of success in the college ranks, going 187-32 with three national championships, but his first year in the NFL has been forgettable.

Tennessee Titans star Derrick Henry is working toward a return for the final stretch of his team's season, according to the Tennesseean's Ben Arthur.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Sunday that Henry, who underwent surgery for a broken foot, was tentatively on track to make it back for the postseason if the Titans qualify.

So far, the sky hasn't fallen for Tennessee since the 2020 All-Pro was injured in a Week 8 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. The team is 3-2 without him and occupies the second seed in the AFC at 9-4.

Still, the Titans' Super Bowl hopes likely hinge heavily on whether Henry is on the field by the time the playoffs roll around. They have the fourth-best moneyline (+800, bet $100 to win $800) at DraftKings Sportsbook to claim the AFC crown.

Despite missing the last five weeks, Henry is still fourth in the NFL in rushing yards (937), which says everything about his performance prior to breaking the bone in his foot. His 117.1 rushing yards per game are nearly 14 more than the next player (Jonathan Taylor, 103.7).

With the addition of Julio Jones, the Titans might have been looking to ease some of the burden on Henry. Instead, Jones has been limited to seven games, and his production (25 catches, 369 yards) is well below his usual standards.

As a result, Henry was on pace to break the single-season record for carries (416 by Larry Johnson in 2006) before factoring in the addition of a 17th game.

Derrick Henry's workload was off the charts. His 219 rushes were the most by a player in his team's first 8 games of a season in NFL history. pic.twitter.com/eyFKcp3dlz

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 1, 2021

If the 27-year-old can not only return, but also be the same kind of workhorse back on the ground in a few weeks, then the Titans could be poised for a second trip to the AFC title game in three seasons.

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One former Urban Meyer assistant is coming to the embattled coach's defense.

"I saw the one comment, 'You're all losers'—he'd never talk like that," the ex-assistant told Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. "It's more, 'What have you done for me lately?' The biggest thing was to challenge coaches. He doesn't blame players. But it's very uncomfortable for coaches. He'll go after you, he'll ask why you're doing drills a certain way, running meetings a certain way, and if you say, 'That's how I've always done it,' he'll tell you that's the worst reason you can give. He'll murder you for that. It's uncomfortable. But I promise you he's not coasting. Most coaches blame players in a situation like he's in. He doesn't."

Meyer entered Week 14 facing a firestorm of criticism after Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported the Jacksonville Jaguars coach has alienated players and assistant coaches. Arguably the most damning part of the report included a tidbit about how Meyer said he's "a winner and his assistant coaches are losers" during a staff meeting.

Players, including wide receiver Marvin Jones, have also challenged Meyer's coaching tactics. Meyer forcefully denied the report following an ugly 20-0 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

"What's the answer [when things are going badly]? Start leaking information or some nonsense?" Meyer said. "No. No, that's nonsense. That's garbage. I've been very blessed. I've not really dealt with that. I've not dealt with, 'Well, did you hear what he said?' What? No. Let's improve on offense and get our quarterback in a position to be successful. That's our focus.

"What someone's brother said, or someone said someone said, that will occupy very little of my time. And if there is a source, that source is unemployed. I mean, within seconds, if there's some source that's doing that."

Meyer's first season as an NFL coach has been an unmitigated disaster. The Jaguars are 2-11 following Sunday's loss to the Titans, which featured Trevor Lawrence throwing four interceptions and the team rushing for just eight total yards. The team hasn't scored more than 17 points in seven straight games and has been outscored by 160 points this season.

While few expected the Jaguars to compete for a playoff spot this season, their lack of improvement as the season has progressed has been concerning. Even teams like the Detroit Lions and New York Jets have shown some level of promise with their young rosters and seem to play hard for their respective coaching staffs. The Jaguars looked like a completely defeated team against the Titans, seemingly resigned to playing out the string on the 2021 season.

If Meyer's seat isn't hot already, it's certainly warming. Lawrence was considered one of the greatest can't-miss prospects of his generation. He's been downright bad while playing in a scheme that has done nothing to help him.

Meyer may need to be one-and-done simply to save Lawrence from wasting his promise.

The Houston Texans placed running back David Johnson on the reserve/COVID-19 list ahead of Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Johnson has run for 176 yards and caught 28 passes for 214 yards and one touchdown through 11 games.

His absence will force the Texans to lean on Rex Burkhead and Royce Freeman more to anchor the running game.

Johnson was dealt a bad hand from the moment he landed in Houston by virtue of moving to the team through the DeAndre Hopkins trade.

"I was in such a fishbowl," he said to The Athletic's Aaron Reiss. "Everything I did was going to be magnified because of the trade. Honestly, I felt like if I was traded for anyone else, it wouldn’t be as bad. I think just the magnitude of the trade is what made it so stressful."

Johnson totaled 1,005 yards from scrimmage and scored eight touchdowns in 2020 as the Texans finished 4-12.

At 2-10, Houston is already eliminated from playoff contention, and it has one of the NFL's worst offenses with Deshaun Watson continuing to be inactive because of his ongoing legal situation.

The Texans are averaging the fewest yards (254.5) and points (13.7) per game. A telling fact about the state of the running game is that Mark Ingram II remains the leading rusher (294 yards) despite not having suited up since Week 7.

Losing Johnson from the backfield exacerbates their issues on the ground. Burkhead is averaging 2.8 yards per carry, while Freeman has only been slightly better (3.6 yards per carry) between his spells with the Texans and Carolina Panthers in 2021.

The Houston Texans have an uncertain quarterback situation going forward, but that doesn't mean they will target the position early in the 2022 NFL draft.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Davis Mills will have a chance to prove himself as a long-term option over the final five games of the season. If he plays well, the Texans could look to draft defensive ends such as Michigan's Aidan Hutchinson or Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux early in the first round instead of a quarterback.

Deshaun Watson remains on the roster, but he has been the subject of trade talks since last offseason.

Mills, a third-round pick in 2021 out of Stanford, has been named the starter for the rest of the season for the 2-10 Texans over veteran Tyrod Taylor. The 23-year-old has seven touchdowns with eight interceptions and a 78.4 quarterback rating in eight appearances (six starts) this year.

Despite modest production to this point, the Texans think highly of Mills. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported in October the team liked him better than Tua Tagovailoa amid trade talks with the Miami Dolphins.

The upcoming draft is also seemingly not the best one to find a new franchise quarterback.

Bleacher Report's Scouting Department didn't list a single quarterback prospect among the top 20 overall players in its latest big board. Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder was considered the top player at the position at No. 22 overall.

Thibodeaux and Hutchinson are considered top-five prospects and could each provide an immediate impact as elite pass-rushers. Though Houston's offense has gotten plenty of attention this year, the defense has struggled as well while ranking 30th in points allowed per game (26.9).

Pairing another young edge-rusher with Jonathan Greenard could give the team quality building blocks for the rebuild.   

Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry is reportedly on track to be available for the playoffs or the end of the regular season as he recovers from a right foot injury.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the team is encouraged by Henry's progress, though no formal timetable has been set after surgery to repair the fifth metatarsal in early November.

The 27-year-old had been durable through his first five years with the Titans, missing just two games before this season. He has been nearly unstoppable over the last three seasons, winning a pair of rushing titles and rushing for more than 2,000 yards in 2020.

Henry entered 2021 with high expectations after joining the 2,000-yard club, which includes seven other running backs, last year. In eight games before being sidelined, he rushed for 937 yards and 10 touchdowns on 219 carries.

With the Alabama product out, the Titans have primarily relied on D'Onta Foreman and Dontrell Hilliard. The team previously signed and later released Adrian Peterson, who has since joined the Seattle Seahawks.

The Titans are 8-4 on the season and in first place in the AFC South, and they'll take the field Sunday versus the 2-10 Jacksonville Jaguars.