Welcome to Large Cat Nation’s workers roundtable!
Immediately, we’re previewing Week 2’s matchup between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
What’s your greatest takeaway from the Tank Bigsby commerce?
Dillon Appleman: This teaching workers values versatility on the working again place above all else. In the event you can’t constantly run, catch, and move shield, you then’re expendable. Rookies Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr. have clearly confirmed to Coen and firm that they’re prepared to do all of it behind Travis Etienne.
Travis Holmes: The long run begins right now? With the commerce of Bigsby to the Eagles, the Jaguars proceed to make strikes primarily based on their scheme, their imaginative and prescient for the offense, and their evolving tradition. Whereas many this offseason thought there could also be a chance of Travis Etienne being the working again to be traded, primarily attributable to contract causes, Bigsby at all times made some sense attributable to his struggles with move safety and catching the ball on this Liam Coen offense that mandates versatility. With Bhayshul Tuten ramping up, LeQuint Allen within the wings, and a crew prepared to give up two Day 3 draft picks, James Gladstone continues to retool with an eye fixed on the 2026 draft. I even have a sneaking suspicion that this season received’t finish with out a type of fifth or sixth-round picks being traded for a promising veteran participant by the November 4th commerce deadline. Time will inform.
Gus Logue: Bhayshul Tuten is the Jaguars’ working again of the long run. For now, Travis Etienne is one of the best and most skilled participant within the backfield, so he’ll get the lion’s share of working again touches as long as he stays upright. However I wouldn’t be shocked if Jacksonville runs the fifth-year again into the bottom earlier than letting him stroll in free company. That might clear the runway for Tuten to take off in 2026.
Henry Zimmer: I feel the Jags received a very good return on the Tank Bigsby commerce. Two picks, with the potential for one among them being a fourth, is a superb deal for a backup working again. One in all these working backs wasn’t going to make it by means of the 12 months on the Jags, so higher to eliminate him now and provides him an opportunity elsewhere whereas additionally making up some losses.
What’s a matchup that you simply’re wanting ahead to watching this week?
Dillon: The considered Travis Hunter getting some nook reps in opposition to Ja’Marr Chase is just too enjoyable a situation to not spotlight right here. I’m unsure what number of occasions we’ll really see it, however seeing it in any respect ought to be a type of lean ahead in your seats moments for followers.
Travis: This looks like a type of matchups the place Arik Armstead (and hopefully Maason Smith) can dominate inside. With Jacksonville initially struggling in opposition to Carolina’s run sport, it is going to be crucial for them to not permit Cincinnati to provide a balanced assault. Luckily for the Jaguars, Bengals beginning proper guard Lucas Patrick was positioned on IR on Tuesday. Attributable to that harm, Dalton Risner — who was simply signed in late August — is projected to start out on Sunday after ending final week’s matchup in Patrick’s absence. Whereas PFF graded Risner out at an excellent 80.5 on move blocking, his 36.4 run blocking grade ranked close to the worst within the league at 74th out of 78 qualifying guards. That’s excellent news for Armstead and the Jaguars’ linebacker core.
Gus: Anthony Campanile in opposition to Joe Burrow. The previous handed his first take a look at with flying colours — Bryce Younger accomplished 51.5% of passes for 4.4 yards per try and a 49.0 passer score in Week 1 — however Burrow is a distinct beast. He’s within the class of quarterbacks that you do not need to blitz in opposition to. Campanile should discover methods to stress the pocket with out sending further our bodies, or else Burrow will make them pay.
Henry: Clearly, the Bengals have nice receivers. However can this Jags protection cease them? The Browns completely stymied the passing assault from Joe Burrow and firm, so let’s see if the Jags can replicate that. Because the Burrow to Ja’Marr Chase connection goes, so typically do the Bengals as a complete.
Who would be the greatest X-factor on Sunday?
Dillon: After a quiet sport in Week 1, Ja’Marr Chase is more likely to be peppered with targets in entrance of the house crowd in Cincinnati. Tyson Campbell and Jarrian Jones (and hopefully a bit Travis Hunter) might be in for a busy afternoon.
Travis: Jarrian Jones. Whereas Travis Hunter may have an uptick in defensive snaps, I count on Jones to proceed to attract the third-most snaps of the cornerback group and to get a number of alternatives in protection in opposition to Tee Higgins. Whereas his Week 1 efficiency is primarily remembered for the 26-yard move interference penalty in opposition to 6’5” Tetairoa McMillan, I count on a bounce-back sport because the second-year defensive again matches up in opposition to one other big-body receiver in Higgins (6’4”). Jones and Higgins are bodily on the line of scrimmage and have a historical past of taking part in the ball properly within the air. This would be the crimson zone and third down matchup to observe in my guide, much more than Tyson Campbell and Jourdan Lewis in opposition to Ja’Marr Chase.
Gus: Brian Thomas Jr. has to get going. He was capable of finding the endzone in Week 1 on a well-blocked end-around, however he caught simply 1 of seven targets from Trevor Lawrence. As cool because it was to see the Jaguars win by double digits without having these two to ball out, Thomas and Lawrence should enhance their chemistry in the event that they’re going to win video games in opposition to higher opponents.
Henry: The X-Issue this week have to be Burrow. He’s identified for getting his Bengals groups off to gradual begins and final week was a sign of that. He shredded the Jags the final time the groups confronted off, however that is a completely new protection. If the Jags can hold him contained like they did with Bryce Younger (wishful pondering), and like how the Browns did to Burrow final week, Jacksonville may begin 2-0 underneath this new regime.
Dillon: Jaguars 26, Bengals 31
Travis: Jaguars 31, Bengals 23
Gus: Jaguars 27, Bengals 23
Henry: Jaguars 24, Bengals 31
What are your Week 2 predictions, Jaguars followers? Tell us within the feedback!