Coen ‘trending toward’ playing starters vs. CAR

Lawrence’s big statistical day could have been bigger if he hadn’t inexplicably taken a knee at the one yard line on a QB rush with about eight minutes left in the fourth quarter. Bhayshul Tuten would go on to score a rushing touchdown a few plays later. Lawrence picked apart of the New England secondary with very little pressure in his face, targeting former Patriots WR Jakobi Meyers heavily and connecting with three different pass catchers for touchdowns — including Parker Washington, who had another score called back. Lawrence, with one of the highest weekly floors in the game, will again be a top-12 QB option in Week 4 against Bengals in what should be a high-scoring game.

The Jaguars were relatively run-heavy against Denver a week after the Broncos were shredded by Ken Walker and the Chiefs. Lawrence mostly checked down in this one, targeting Parker Washington a team-high 12 times. Brian Thomas, Jr., meanwhile, had two untimely drops, one that appeared to frustrate Lawrence. Lawrence’s interception came on a poor throw to Washington near the sideline. He’ll look to bounce back next week against a stingy New England secondary.

It was a monstrous offensive showing from the Jaguars, led by Lawrence and his four passing touchdowns. He opened scoring with a 30-yard touchdown throw to Parker Washington in the first quarter, tossing two more scores in the first half. Lawrence flexed his mobility with a lob on the run to Jakobi Meyers for a 32-yard touchdown in the third quarter. With a comfortable lead, Lawrence rested in the fourth quarter, finishing with a whopping 0.72 EPA per play. Nick Mullens tallied three kneel-downs in relief. Liam Coen’s offense will generate many fantasy opportunities across the board, especially when operating as efficiently as it did Week 1. Lawrence built upon his solid 2025 season with an all-star showing Week 1 against the Browns and should be a low-end fantasy QB1 for Week 2 against a tougher Broncos defense.

According to ESPN’s Michael DiRocco, Lawrence’s offseason “was about gaining a graduate-level understanding” of coach Liam Coen’s offense. Last season, Lawrence was rehabbing an injury while attempting to change his footwork and adjust to a new play caller. He is now calmer and “can play more freely the way he did in the second half of last season.” Lawrence was the overall QB1 in total scoring from Weeks 9-18. If Lawrence and his pass catchers can carry the momentum into 2026, Lawrence can once again finish as an elite QB1, this time from Week 1 onward.

Specifically, Coen said Lawrence “did a really nice job taking care of the football,” perhaps throwing fewer than five interceptions across organized team activities and mandatory minicamp. Lawrence also performed well when “running the whole operation, managing the protections and some of the concepts on the field.” With a year of experience in Coen’s system now under his belt, Lawrence said he feels more confident going through his progressions and is doing “a lot less thinking” as plays are unfolding. Jaguars OC Grant Udinski has been impressed with Lawrence’s recall and his ability to guide teammates through concepts that the team hasn’t practiced in quite a while. Positive reports on the Jaguars’ offense continue to roll in. Lawrence warrants QB1 treatment in 2026.

The Jaguars acquired Meyers via trade in Week 10 last year. He then led the Jaguars in targets (63) and receptions (43) until their season came to a close with a Wild Card Round loss to the Bills. Fellow Jaguars WRs Parker Washington and Brian Thomas Jr. have generated buzz in recent weeks, but Meyers should not be overlooked. He still has a chance to repeat as the team’s target leader this season.

Lawrence found his groove after the team’s Week 8 bye, totaling 20 passing touchdowns, seven rushing touchdowns and seven interceptions. Coincidentally, Coen notes, their “average depth of target went up towards the second half of the season.” Coen wants to “keep pushing that envelope a little bit -– especially with [Lawrence] and BT.” Lawrence and Thomas have put a lot of work into trying to get their timing down this offseason, and Lawrence said, “it’s starting to pay off.” He feels like the two of them are “clicking more and more every day.” That’s great to hear. Thomas’ play dropped off significantly after an explosive rookie season, and trade rumors have swirled around him prior to the 2026 NFL Draft. If he can return to rookie season form, Thomas can smash his ADP this season.

Jalen Hurts and the Eagles will take on the Jaguars in Jacksonville’s annual trip to London, where they are 7-7 since the 2013 regular season. Hurts, facing internal criticism this offseason following a difficult 2025 campaign, will look to get back on track in the run-heavy Philly offense that last season ranked 13th in EPA per rush, behind the Commanders and Giants. The Jaguars will look to build off a strong 2025 season, Liam Coen’s first as the team’s head coach. The Jags had the fourth best point differential last season, trailing only the Seahawks, Patriots, and Rams.

Thomas was drafted by a previous Jaguars regime and his play fell off dramatically — completed with major effort issues — in 2025. “There has been no indication that trading Thomas is something the Jaguars are planning, but there are teams monitoring the situation in case the hypertalented LSU product has fallen far enough down the Jacksonville depth chart that the front office would consider a move,” Graziano said. ESPN’s Ben Solak named the Patriots, Bills, Steelers, and Raiders as potential Thomas suitors this offseason. As a rookie in 2024, Thomas went for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns as an explosive threat, mostly with Mac Jones under center for the Jags. Thomas has shown vanishingly little chemistry with Trevor Lawrence, however.

The Jaguars, with an avid UK fanbase, will once again play a couple games overseas in 2026. Jacksonville is 7-7 over 14 regular season games in London since the 2013 NFL season. Last year Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars were blown out 35-7 by the Rams at Wembley stadium. Lawrence and head coach Liam Coen will look to bounce back from that loss in 2026 after a 2025 season in which they ranked 12th in EPA per play and 16th in offensive success rate.