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Mounting injury concerns should raise Jacksonville Jaguars' urgency at NFL trade deadline
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- Mounting injury concerns should raise Jacksonville Jaguars' urgency at NFL trade deadline
Want Exhibit A on why the Jaguars should be scouring the trade market ahead of the deadline Tuesday (Nov. 4) at 4 p.m.?
In Sunday's 30-29 win over the Las Vegas Raiders , 18 players on offense played at least seven snaps and 17 players on defense played at least six snaps.
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The Jaguars are 5-3, but their injury situation worsened against the Raiders . Reinforcements should be considered at four positions.
Receiver: Parker Washington was the only healthy receiver during the week of practice and things only went downhill in the game. Dyami Brown (already with a shoulder issue) was evaluated for a concussion , Brian Thomas Jr. (already with a right shoulder issue) returned after a left ankle injury, Tim Patrick (groin) was inactive and Travis Hunter (knee) is on injured reserve. A big name like New Orleans ' Chris Olave would be terrific, but a depth receiver is more probable.
Safety: Eric Murray (neck) is on injured reserve for at least three more games. His replacement, Antonio Johnson , missed three tackles against the Raiders, and Andrew Wingard allowed another touchdown (by Raiders tight end Brock Bowers ).
Cornerback:The Jaguars' depth is tenuous after losing Hunter. Greg Newsome had his most extensive playing time (62 out of 64 snaps) playing opposite Buster Brown. Nickel Jourdan Lewis (right shoulder) lasted one play.
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The trade deadline is usually anti-climactic — it makes for good fodder (particularly on the national networks) — but it is usually a day to work the margins of the roster.
Here are 10 thoughts about Jaguars-Raiders:
1. Run-game emphasis
The Jaguars rushed a season-high 42 times for 151 yards (tied for second-most). The attempts were the most by a Jaguars team since 44 against Cincinnati on Oct. 20, 2019.
During their two-game losing streak to Seattle and the Los Angeles Rams , the Jaguars had a combined 38 rush attempts.
Travis Etienne showed great toughness in gaining 84 yards on a season-high 22 attempts.
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A key statistic to me about run-pass balance are first-down plays (except for hurry-up situations). The Jaguars had 15 rushes and 11 passes on first down.
2. Hamilton saves game
A first look at the replay of the Raiders' failed 2-point conversion in overtime showed how defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton saved the game.
Johnson was assigned to Raiders receiver Tyler Lockett in the left slot and Newsome was opposite Tre Tucker (wide left).
At the snap, well, Lockett ran a corner route and Tucker ran an in-breaking route … until he didn't. Tucker darted back outside, which left Johnson (who expected Tucker to run toward him) in no man's land and Lockett wide open in the end zone.
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Hamilton, though, batted down Geno Smith 's pass.
3. Third down improvement
The Jaguars entered Week 9 ranked 30th in third down offense (33%, 31 of 94), but they climbed into a tie for 23rd (36.4%, 40 of 110) by going 9 of 16 against the Raiders. The conversion rate of 56.3% was a season-best.
Staying on schedule was the key. On the nine conversions, the Jaguars had an average-to-go-distance of 4.3 yards, which allowed coach Liam Coen to call a run or pass play.
The nine third-down conversions were the Jaguars' most since nine against Las Vegas on Nov. 6, 2022.
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On third and fourth downs combined on Sunday, the Jaguars were 12 of 19.
4. Walker's ejection
Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker was ejected with 6:26 left in the third quarter for throwing a right jab at Raiders offensive tackle Stone Forsythe after Daniel Carlson 's 24-yard field goal.
The television broadcast didn't show a replay of what upset Walker, but the All-22 video showed that on the kick, Forsythe blocked Walker and picked up Walker's right leg.
Walker snapped and threw the punch. At least he didn't use his left hand (cast on his surgically-repaired wrist).
Minus Walker (37 defensive snaps), the Jaguars gave more time to Emmanuel Ogbah (24 snaps).
Nov 2, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten (33) celebrates after a touchdown during the second half against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
5. Near goal-line collision
Rookie tailback Bhayshul Tuten 's 1-yard touchdown run, which gave the Jaguars a 20-16 lead with 4:06 remaining in regulation, was nearly a debacle.
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Quarterback Trevor Lawrence was under center and nearly collided with in-motion tight end Johnny Mundt at the snap. Lawrence was able to avoid a collision and handed off to Tuten.
Later at the goal-line, on his 1-yard touchdown leap on fourth down in overtime, Lawrence nearly fumbled while in the air.
6. Injuries provide opportunities
The rundown on the injuries best as I could tell ..
Lewis (right shoulder) was injured when Hamilton fell on him during a carry by Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty. … Tight end Hunter Long (hip/knee) was awkwardly folded up during a catch negated by penalty but returned. … Brown (concussion) was injured on a kick return. … Thomas (left ankle), injured on his 34-yard catch, got a new tape job and returned. … Left guard Ezra Cleveland (right ankle/knee) was injured on the final offensive play of regulation when defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway , engaged with center Robert Hainsey , fell into him from behind.
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Because of the injuries, Cole Van Lanen , already involved as the jumbo tight end, finished the game at left guard (28 total snaps), practice squad call-up receiver Tim Jones (13 snaps), nickel Jarrian Jones (47), reserve guard Chuma Edoga (seven) and safety Rayuan Lane (six) saw time.
7. Cleaner in pass protection
After allowing seven sacks in consecutive games, the Jaguars allowed only one sack to Las Vegas — defensive end Maxx Crosby beat left tackle Walker Little in 3.83 seconds.
The Raiders rushed five or more players on 11 of Lawrence's 40 drop-backs (27.5%). He was knocked down only on the sack. The Jaguars did allow 12 pressures, including four by unblocked rushers.
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8. Pressuring Smith
The Jaguars rushed at least five players on 20 of Smith's 45 drop-backs (44.4%).
Against extra rushers, Smith was 14 of 19 for 137 yards and three touchdowns.
I gave the Jaguars' defense 12 total disruptions (two sacks, one knockdown and nine pressures).
Ogbah and Josh Hines-Allen combined for a sack on the final play of regulation (3.48 seconds) and Hines-Allen tracked down Smith in overtime (3.86 seconds) for his first solo sack of the season.
9. Numbers of note
I booked the Jaguars with 10 missed tackles (three on one play), led by three apiece for Johnson and linebacker Foye Oluokun . … Oluokun led the Jaguars with 2 1/2 run "stuffs" (gain of 1 or fewer yards). … Brown and tight end Hunter Long dropped passes. … On at least two goal-line plays, the Jaguars used six defensive linemen. … Thomas' 34-yard catch included 19 yards post-reception. … Lawrence has 18 rushing touchdowns, breaking the record set by David Garrard (17).
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10. Ups & Downs
Ups:Receiver Parker Washington played 70 of 80 snaps and had 90 yards on career-high eight catches. … Receiver Austin Trammell , in his season debut, started overtime with a 54-yard kick return. … Center Robert Hainsey had a clean sheet per my charting (no penalties, pass-rush disruptions or bad run plays). … The Jaguars allowed only 3.0 yards per rush.
Downs:The Jaguars' kickoff coverage unit allowed a whopping 232 yards on Raiders returns (38.7-yard average). … Lawrence's first-quarter interception from the 2-yard line ended the Jaguars' longest drive of the year (10:27) without a score and was his third red zone turnover (one fumble/two interceptions). … Right guard Patrick Mekari was called for his team-high seventh enforced penalty. …The Jaguars have at least nine penalties in six of their eight games (nine for 80 yards against Las Vegas). They had two false starts and illegal motions apiece on offense and Walker's ejection on special teams.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars' injuries piling up ahead of NFL trade deadline
