Brian Thomas Jr. may have endured a down year in 2025, but he’s still the most important receiver on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ roster and is currently battling Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers for the WR1 role.
However, the Jaguars received an injury scare Tuesday when Thomas went down with a shoulder injury during a joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The latest updates, though, should certainly come as a relief to Jaguars fans.
Brian Thomas Jr. Returns to Practice After Injury Scare
Thomas suffered the injury on the very first snap of 11-on-11 drills when he landed hard on his shoulder after tracking down and catching a 40-yard pass from quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
While the 23-year-old managed to stay on the field for one more rep, he was eventually taken off to be evaluated by the medical staff before being shut down for the remainder of practice.
Thomas was back on the field Wednesday, wearing a red non-contact jersey just one day after injuring his left shoulder.
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Fantasy football analyst Aly Jiwani called the development encouraging.
“Not full clearance yet, but I’m not moving BTJ down my rankings unless the shoulder keeps limiting him,” Jiwani added.
Brian Thomas Jr. is practicing today in a red non-contact jersey one day after injuring his left shoulder.
That’s an encouraging 24-hour update.
Not full clearance yet, but I’m not moving BTJ down my rankings unless the shoulder keeps limiting him.
— Aly Jiwani (@alyshahjiwani) August 26, 2026
Sports commentator Ryan Green also viewed Thomas’ return as a positive sign.
“Probably is a great sign after getting dinged up yesterday with a shoulder,” Green added.
Brian Thomas Jr out here doing an individual work in a red noncontact jersey… Probably is a great sign after getting dinged up yesterday with a shoulder
— Hacker (@RyanGreen1010XL) August 26, 2026
Head coach Liam Coen had already ruled out a serious injury following Tuesday’s practice, saying the former LSU star should be ready for Week 1.
“I think he’s alright. He just came down on his shoulder,” the Jaguars HC said after practice, according to ESPN’s Jaguars Insider Michael DiRocco.
“I think just holding him out was smart, keep him out and get him to go for Cleveland.”
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Thomas had a disappointing 2025 season, with his red-zone target rate falling from 28.6% as a rookie to just 9.4% last season. He managed only one top-12 fantasy week and three top-24 finishes, two fewer top-24 weeks than Parker Washington, a teammate who was barely on the fantasy radar a year earlier.
A preseason injury could have pushed Thomas even further down fantasy rankings, but physical therapist Jeff Mueller isn’t concerned about his availability for Week 1.
“So it’s not nothing for Brian Thomas Jr, but good to see him out at practice. Looks like he’s guarding his left arm slightly (a little less arm swing in this one video) but AC sprains can be painful for a few days. Not concerned by Week 1,” Mueller wrote.
So it’s not nothing for Brian Thomas Jr, but good to see him out at practice.
Looks like he’s guarding his left arm slightly (a little less arm swing in this one video) but AC sprains can be painful for a few days.
Not concerned by Week 1. https://t.co/469sPsXzp1— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) August 26, 2026
NFL reporter Mia O’Brien was also thrilled to see Thomas back on the practice field.
“But the internet told me Brian Thomas Jr didn’t exist anymore!!!!!!! No. 7 is back at practice with non-contact pinnie,” O’Brien wrote.
But the internet told me Brian Thomas Jr didn’t exist anymore!!!!!!!
No. 7 is back at practice with non-contact pinnie #Jaguars | #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/qZevVu8mDM
— Mia O’Brien (@MiaOBrienTV) August 26, 2026
“Brian Thomas Jr. is sporting an orange non-contact jersey as he goes through individual drills today. A good sign after his injury yesterday,” added Jaguars beat writer Juston W. Lewis.
After a stellar rookie campaign in which he recorded 87 receptions for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns to rank sixth in PFN’s WR Impact Metric, Thomas fell to 45th in the metric in 2026 while recording just two touchdowns.
An injury-prone start to the season would have made things even more difficult for Thomas, but all signs currently point toward him being healthy and ready to catch touchdown passes from Lawrence when the Jaguars host the Cleveland Browns on September 13.
