JACKSONVILLE, Fla.: Calvin Ridley is healthier when Zay Jones is round. Ridley’s prime three video games of the season got here with Jones wholesome and enjoying alongside him.
Coincidence? Circumstantial proof? The Jaguars contemplate it proof that Jones is an integral a part of what makes Jacksonville’s offense hum. Although Jones may not be as vital as Ridley, Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne, Christian Kirk or Evan Engram, it’s clear he makes all the pieces simpler for Ridley — and possibly everybody — when he’s on the sector.
Jones returned from a nagging proper knee harm to play Sunday in opposition to Tennessee — he missed 4 consecutive video games and 5 of the earlier six — and helped the Jaguars (7-3) ship their cleanest and best outing of the season.
Jacksonville scored on 5 consecutive possessions to take a 27-0 lead within the third quarter and coasted to a 34-14 victory that was a much-needed rebound from final week’s 34-3 embarrassment in opposition to San Francisco.
Ridley completed with seven catches for 103 yards and two touchdowns, each approaching flawless throws from Lawrence. Jones caught 4 passes for 20 yards but in addition drew a 27-yard penalty for go interference.
“When we’re a complete core, I mean, come on,” Ridley stated. “When we have our complete core, we are more comfortable and we communicate better.”
The Jaguars insist that Jones’ dimension, velocity and flexibility don’t permit defenses to double or bracket Ridley as typically. The numbers agree. In the three full video games that Jones and Ridley have performed collectively, Ridley has 22 catches for 326 yards and three TDs. He has 20 catches for 248 yards and a rating within the different seven.
“Just having his presence out there opened up some other things for us,” coach Doug Pederson stated of Jones.
Jones was arrested final week on a misdemeanor home battery cost following an argument with the mom of his little one. He spent an evening in jail earlier than being launched on a $2,500 bond. Jones practiced the remainder of the week and was again on the sector every week sooner than anticipated as he continues to get better from the knee harm.
“When players come back from injury, you don’t bring them back slowly,” Pederson stated. “They’re in for a reason, and you go full steam ahead. Zay was ready to go, and he was a big part of this. He played tough. He played physical. He made some catches.”
And he actually helped Ridley.
WHAT’S WORKING
Jacksonville transformed 3 times on fourth down, none greater than when Lawrence linked with D’Ernest Johnson for 34 yards on a fourth-and-4 play on the Tennessee 40-yard line early within the third quarter. Lawrence stepped as much as keep away from a sack, began to scramble after which discovered Johnson simply earlier than he bought to the road of scrimmage.
Lawrence scored two performs later, his second speeding landing of the day. The two performs have been amongst a number of that Lawrence, who remains to be recovering from a sprained left knee, made along with his legs.
WHAT NEEDS HELP
The Jaguars are nonetheless trying to find higher red-zone effectivity. They settled for 2 brief area targets within the second quarter and at the moment are tied for twenty eighth within the league in scoring touchdowns after reaching the 20-yard line.
STOCK UP
Long snapper Ross Matiscik actually loved the primary pressured fumble and fumble restoration of his NFL profession. Matiscik stripped the ball from punt returner Eric Garror and corralled it. He celebrated by working into the top zone with teammates. Matiscik then whipped the ball towards a cameraman. He missed, however Matiscik later returned to apologize anyway.
STOCK DOWN
Jaguars defensive deal with DaVon Hamilton was a wholesome scratch in opposition to Tennessee, a stunning choice contemplating he seemingly had been on the mend from a again an infection that sidelined him the primary seven video games of the season.
“I just want to make sure that he is mentally and physically ready to go,” Pederson stated.
INJURIES
Standout CB Tyson Campbell (hamstring) is predicted to return this week when the Jaguars face the Texans.
KEY NUMBER
21 — Number of losses in Jacksonville’s final 26 video games in opposition to AFC South rival Houston, a shocking stretch of one-sidedness for an NFL sequence.
NEXT STEPS
The Jaguars can take management of the division by beating the Texans on Sunday. Jacksonville is a street favourite, in response to FanDuel Sportsbook, in opposition to Houston for simply the third time since 2007.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
