The Jacksonville Jaguars’ receiving corps continues to battle significant injury concerns ahead of their Week 10 matchup against the Houston Texans. Brian Thomas Jr. exited Sunday’s win over the Las Vegas Raiders with an ankle injury and has already been ruled out for this week.
With the Jaguars thin at receiver, fans are anxious for updates on his status and potential return timeline.
When Will Brian Thomas Jr. Return?
Thomas exited last week’s game in the fourth quarter with a low-grade high ankle sprain and missed the entirety of overtime. While Jacksonville ultimately came away with the victory, the sophomore has been ruled out for Sunday’s matchup against the Texans.
A low-grade sprain usually is not a long-term injury, but high ankle sprains still need plenty of rest and can be painful. Players often miss at least a week. Adam Schefter first reported that Thomas had “a chance” to play, but three missed practices ultimately led to his inactive status.
Thomas is expected to return to practice next week and should be ready for the Jaguars’ Week 11 clash against the Los Angeles Chargers.
With Thomas out, Parker Washington will likely take over as the main receiver, but the group is still thin with Travis Hunter already on injured reserve. The Jaguars just added Jakobi Meyers, who should play, but he may not see much action right away as he gets used to the team.
Thomas burst onto the scene with a spectacular rookie campaign, firmly establishing himself as one of the league’s top young receivers. With Trevor Lawrence back to full health and a new offensive-minded head coach in Liam Coen at the helm, the hope was that he could unlock another gear in Year 2.
So far this year, though, that jump hasn’t materialized. Both Lawrence and Thomas have been inconsistent. Thomas has recorded just 420 receiving yards and one touchdown through eight games, catching only 50% of his targets. He currently ranks 63rd in PFSN’s WR Impact metric, a steep decline after finishing fourth last season.
Thomas posted 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie, becoming Lawrence’s go-to target. His dip in production has contributed to Lawrence’s own struggles, as the quarterback has thrown only nine touchdowns against six interceptions through eight contests.
Overall, Jacksonville’s offense has been underwhelming, ranking 23rd in PFSN’s Offensive Impact metric with a C- grade. Fourth-year running back Travis Etienne Jr. has been a rare bright spot, while the defense has carried the load en route to a 5-3 record.
