Is Brian Thomas Jr. Hurt? Breaking Down the Jaguars Star’s Quiet Start in Week 1 vs. Panthers

After an impressive rookie season in which he hauled 87 passes for 1282 yards and 10 touchdowns, many were expecting the Jacksonville Jaguars’ wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. to have a big sophomore season. However, through the first quarter of their 2025 home opener, the Jaguars are still waiting for Thomas to make any noise. What’s going on with Jacksonville’s wideout?

Is Jacksonville Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. Hurt?

While the WR is not hurt, he hasn’t been able to make much of a mark in the first half of the Jaguars and Panthers’ weather-delayed season opener. While other wide receivers have gotten some targets, including the Jaguars’ rookie Travis Hunter, fans are waiting to see something from the second-year wideout.

However, he would respond shortly after they returned to the field from the lightning delay after a failed Carolina drive. Travis Etienne busted through the line of scrimmage for a long 71-yard run to set the Jaguars up in scoring position. Rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten would get them to the nine-yard line with eleven more yards before QB Trevor Lawrence tossed Thomas the ball on an end-around as he took it to the house.

Brian Thomas Jr. scores a TD on his first touch of the season 🔥
pic.twitter.com/libhHnBFQ4

— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) September 7, 2025

Despite the quiet start, the Jagurs found a way to get the ball into their playmaker’s hands, even if it wasn’t in the most conventional format Jacksonville fans were used to seeing last season. While Thomas had a few rushes previous season, this was his first touchdown on the ground.

The touchdown gave the Jaguars a comfortable 17-3 lead as they looked sharp under first-year head coach Liam Coen. The rush lanes are open, and the wide receivers are finding plenty of space with Thomas, Hunter, Dyami Brown, and tight end Brenton Strange all finding space in the defense.

It’s only the first half, but if this is the confidence the Jaguars offense is going to play with this season, the move for Coen might have been one of the best decisions owner Shad Khan could have made to improve Jacksonville’s product on the field after last season’s debacle.

Lawrence looks solid in the pocket, leading the offense down the field and appearing like the QB he was billed to be coming out of Clemson. The rushing attack has popped off multiple big runs. Can they keep it up and maintain this momentum all the way through Week 1?