The last time the Jaguars and Chargers met, Jacksonville pulled off a historic comeback, rallying from down 27-0 to stun Los Angeles 31-30 in an AFC wild-card playoff game in January 2023.
This time, it’s the Jaguars who are coming off a historic loss.
Jacksonville (5-4) endured the largest blown lead in franchise history last week at Houston. The Jaguars took a 29-10 lead into the fourth quarter before Texans backup quarterback Davis Mills sparked a 26-0 run to hand the Jaguars a shocking 36-29 setback.
The Jaguars will look to recover on Sunday when they host a Chargers team on a three-game winning streak.
The Chargers (7-3) are also coming off a historic event, but in a much more positive light. Keenan Allen made his 956th catch with the team last week, passing Antonio Gates as the franchise’s all-time receptions leader.
Los Angeles has not had the best injury luck in Jim Harbaugh’s second season coaching the team.
Both starting offensive tackles are done for the year with injuries. The team’s top two running backs, rookie Omarion Hampton and Najee Harris, have each been sidelined for more than a month, and Harris out for the season.
And yet the Chargers just keep winning to remain firmly in the mix in the competitive AFC West, one game behind the Denver Broncos (8-2).
The good news for Los Angeles is that the team appears to have averted a major crisis after star quarterback Justin Herbert was seen limping during a 25-10 home win over the Pittsburgh Steelers last week.
“Doing well,” said Herbert, who was a full practice participant on Wednesday. “Just keep an eye on (my ankles). They just got rolled up on. Being smart, doing whatever I can to make sure I’m ready to go on Sunday.”
Herbert is second in the league in passing yards (2,610), 49 yards behind the Indianapolis Colts’ Daniel Jones, and is tied for third in passing touchdowns (19).
He also has been sacked 33 times, eight shy of his career high and the third-highest total in the NFL this season.
The Jaguars’ defense, tied for fewest sacks in the league with 12, could be what ails a depleted offensive line. Los Angeles offensive tackle Bobby Hart (knee) was back at practice on Wednesday after he missed the Pittsburgh game, and his return also could be a boost.
Jacksonville, which was 4-1 in early October, needs a win this weekend to avoid falling even further behind the first-place Colts (8-2) in the AFC South.
The vibes became worsened Tuesday when Jacksonville announced that receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, the No. 2 pick in this year’s draft, would miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a knee injury he sustained in practice in late October.
Receiver Brian Thomas Jr., last year’s first-round pick, missed the Houston game with an ankle injury, while Dyami Brown played after clearing concussion protocol but didn’t record any catches.
That has certainly made things hard of late for quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who has two touchdown passes and two interceptions over the past three games. He is on pace for 3,774 passing yards, which would be his fewest in a full season since his 2021 rookie campaign.
“Trevor and I had a good conversation (Tuesday) in terms of, ‘Hey man, cut it loose and let it rip when we do have some of those opportunities,’” Jaguars coach Liam Coen said. “… We can’t be thinking about (not turning it over) or not making a mistake at all.”
Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden II (knee) was a full practice participant on Wednesday after getting hurt in the Sunday game. Along with Hart, receivers Ladd McConkey (ankle) and Quentin Johnston (shin), linebacker Daiyan Henley (ankle) and cornerback Tarheeb Still (knee) were limited.
Thomas began the week as a limited practice participant for Jacksonville after he missed all of last week. Tight end Brenton Strange (hip) was also limited Wednesday as the team opened up his 21-day window to return from injured reserve. Cornerback Jourdan Lewis (neck), receiver Parker Washington (hamstring), tight end Hunter Long (hip/knee) and offensive lineman Anton Harrison (knee/ankle) did not practice.
Jaguars offensive linemen Robert Hainsey (groin), Ezra Cleveland (knee/ankle), Wyatt Milum (knee) and Patrick Mekari (knee), along with linebackers Dennis Gardeck (chest) and Jack Kiser (shoulder) and cornerback Greg Newsome II (shoulder) were limited on Wednesday.