‘Scared To Get Hit’ – NFL Fans React to Brian Thomas Jr.’s Concerning Drop on Trevor Lawrence’s ‘Hospital Ball’

A battle between two 4-2 teams from opposite conferences felt like the perfect game to introduce a wider international audience to the thrills of the NFL. But for the majority of the first half, it did not look like a competitive affair between two of the league’s best. Instead, the Los Angeles Rams were in firm control of the game, leading 21-0 going into halftime. Some of it was on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ defense, but a majority of the blame fell on the offense.

Unable to get anything going, both on the ground and through the air, the team was thoroughly struggling to move the ball down the field, totaling less than 150 yards of offense in the half. The passing game left a lot to be desired, with no wide receiver going for more than 31 yards in the period. The team had the chance to turn their tide around on a throw to Brian Thomas Jr. However, he dropped a risky catch that did not go unnoticed by the fan base.

Does Brian Thomas Jr. Have a Catching Problem?

A first-round pick for Jacksonville last season, Brian Thomas Jr. had a wildly productive rookie season, increasing the excitement for what the team could do offensively alongside added weapons, with first-time head coach and offensive genius Liam Coen calling the shots.

Unfortunately, his sophomore season hasn’t gone according to plan, with a brutal case of the supposed WR1 dropping seemingly easy catches. Coming into the game, he had just 24 catches on 48 targets, something that the fans hadn’t missed.

A similar story unfolded when they took on the Rams. After their best defensive possession,  the Jaguars had a chance to capitalize. On a relatively easy catch to move the chains and convert a third-and-three opportunity, Thomas failed to haul the ball in.

With how badly the half was going for their team, fans in Duval had had enough. Immediately, fans took to X to voice their displeasure at his play, with one fan outright stating, “Bro scared to get hit.”

Dude is terrified to get hit

— 5 dollars and a dream (@badparlayss) October 19, 2025

Others came to a similar conclusion, even while trying to give him some leeway. “Easy to say from the couch, but I genuinely think he’s terrified to get hit. Especially across the middle.”

Easy to say from the couch, but I genuinely think he’s terrified to get hit. Especially across the middle

— Phillip McGowan (@PhillipLMcGowan) October 19, 2025

But for others, the fault wasn’t on the superstar wide receiver. Instead, they placed the blame on quarterback Trevor Lawrence, another player on the Jaguars roster who wasn’t performing up to expectations.

“Dude, it is because Trevor Lawrence throws hospital balls, man,” one fan complained, before giving BTJ an excuse for his misses by arguing, “Can’t literally die because your QB has sh-t accuracy.”

Dude it is because Trevor Lawrence throws hospital balls man. Can’t literally die because your QB has sh-t accuracy.

— Ken White (@kwhiteii) October 19, 2025

For some, though, it wasn’t either player who was at fault. Instead, the new offensive coordinator, Shane Waldron, drew the blame from one fan, who wrote, “Maybe Shane Waldron should stop designing hospital balls.”

Maybe Shane Waldron should stop designing hospital balls

— parker (@chocolatefroggg) October 19, 2025

It’s unclear exactly who is at fault for the struggles Thomas Jr. is going through. But after ranking fourth in the league on PFSN’s WR Impact last season, he has fallen all the way to 60th this year.

That kind of a drop off is simply unexplainable, unless something has gone dramatically wrong for the Jaguars.