The Jacksonville Jaguars’ bye week appears to have been well-timed.
After jumping out to its first 4-1 start since 2007 under first-year coach Liam Coen, Jacksonville lost its past two games, 20-12 vs. the Seattle Seahawks and 35-7 against the Los Angeles Rams in London, to limp into its open week with a 4-3 record.
The Jaguars will look to return to their winning ways on the road when they oppose the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.
“I think it’s a good reset, mentally more than anything,” Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence said of the bye.
It will be the first Raiders game since co-owner Carol Davis, The First Lady of Raider Nation, passed away on Oct. 24 at the age of 93.
“This week starts us off with a heavy heart with the loss of Mrs. Davis, the matriarch really behind all that happened here,” Raiders coach Pete Carroll said.
Las Vegas (2-5) is also coming off an open week. The Kansas City Chiefs sent the Raiders into the bye week with a 31-0 shutout.
Offense hasn’t come easily to Las Vegas in Carroll’s return to the NFL after a one-year hiatus. The Raiders rank 30th in the league in total offense (276.4 yards per game) and 31st in scoring offense (14.7 points).
The good news is that quarterback Geno Smith, who is tied for the league lead with 10 interceptions, will be getting some help back this week, with star tight end Brock Bowers expected to return.
Bowers, a first-team All-Pro as a rookie in 2024 with 1,194 yards and five touchdowns, hasn’t played the past three games and hasn’t started since Week 1 due to a knee injury.
“(I’m) ready to roll,” Bowers said Wednesday. “… I’m excited to get back out there.”
Coen has experience coaching against Bowers in college when he was Kentucky’s offensive coordinator and the tight end was playing for Georgia. The Jacksonville coach knows how capable Bowers is of taking over a game.
“He has a knack for getting open, he’s harder to tackle,” Coen said. ” … He knows how to wiggle and separate, and also the contested-catch ability. Very good player. I have a lot of respect for him.”
There was no single thing that went wrong in Jacksonville’s falloff entering the bye week.
A defense that forced 14 turnovers in the first five games forced none over the current two-game losing streak.
An offensive line that allowed six total sacks in the first five games has allowed 14 in the past two.
A run game that had been among the league’s best managed just 76.5 yards per game and no scores in losses to the Seahawks and Rams.
“We haven’t played to our standard, but it’s very correctable things, things that I know we can execute and do well,” Lawrence said. “… Everyone being on the same page, I think that’s a big thing, which was good for the open week, to get on the same page, talk about some stuff, what we need to get better at.”
Safety Eric Murray (neck) was the only Jacksonville player who didn’t participate in practice on Wednesday. Linebacker Devin Lloyd (calf), receivers Brian Thomas Jr. (shoulder), Tim Patrick (groin) and Dyami Brown (shoulder); cornerback Jourdan Lewis (neck), linebacker Dennis Gardeck (chest) and tight end Quintin Morris (groin) were all limited.
Bowers was a full participant on Wednesday, but Las Vegas standout defensive end Maxx Crosby (back) and defensive tackle Adam Butler (unspecified) did not practice. Safety Lonnie Jackson (fibula) was the only limited Raider.
Wide receiver Tyler Lockett, whom the Raiders signed on Monday to reunite him with Carroll, has no designation as he prepares for his first game with Las Vegas. After 10 years with the Seahawks, he appeared in seven games (one start) for the Tennessee Titans before he was released at his request last week after recording 10 catches for 70 yards.