Trevor Lawrence can't single anyone out, but should the Jacksonville Jaguars get more out of $20 million receiver Jakobi Meyers?
Meyers has been targeted three times through two weeks, catching all three passes for 68 yards and a touchdown. Nearly half (32) of those yards came on a touchdown catch in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns.
The Jaguars originally traded for Meyers at the deadline last year for a fourth- and sixth-round pick from the Las Vegas Raiders. In nine games for Jacksonville, Meyers hauled in 42 passes for 483 yards and three touchdowns.
Meyers led the team in targets through the final nine games of last year's season with 61. Parker Washington was
the second-most targeted player with 52 targets through the final nine games last season.
This year has told a different tale, with Washington commanding just over a third of the team's targets, with 18 of 49. Washington has caught 12 targets from quarterback Trevor Lawrence for 181 yards and a touchdown.
Meyers ranks fifth on the team in targets behind running back Bhayshul Tuten (three), tight end Brenton Strange (five), WR Brian Thomas Jr. (11), and Washington.
Yet, Meyers has played 90 (78%) of the team's offensive snaps this year. For reference, only the team's starting offensive line and Lawrence have totaled more offensive snaps than Meyers this year.
The easy follow-up is that it's only been two games. Still, fans are wondering why Meyers hasn't been used as much, and Lawrence understands.
Trevor Lawrence wants to utilize Jakobi Meyers
Lawrence isn't ignorant that Meyers has seen the football go his way often this season. He's not concerned and understands there should be a reason to get the ball to Meyers.
“That's something that is obviously important. He's a great player. We've seen how he's impacted our offense since he's been here. I think that does take some work, some intentionality in doing that," Lawrence acknowledged ahead of the team's Week 3 matchup against the New England Patriots. Lawrence also said a game can dictate targets for a variety of reasons.
"I'm not necessarily as concerned about a game or two as far as going forward into the whole season. But yeah, definitely got to give him more opportunities. He can do a lot. He's a really great route runner, gets open, understands things. He knows what we're doing schematically. I trust him; you guys have seen. I think that is definitely something that's important for us as an offense.”
Meyers isn't an afterthought for Jacksonville; he simply hasn't had as many opportunities as he did a season ago. In two games, the Jaguars have either led by a significant margin, limiting passing opportunities, or faced adversity that kept them off schedule for an entire half.
Make no mistake, Meyers' involvement will come soon. Under Coen last season, Jaguars receivers had plenty of parity in target share. Washington totaled 95 targets, while Thomas netted 91. Meyers (61, nine games), tight end Brenton Strange (60, 12 games), running back Travis Etienne (52) and Travis Hunter (45) rounded out the group.
Coen mentioned multiple times this week, once unprompted, that the team has to spread the ball around more.
“Just spreading the wealth, like I said, and getting those guys some more opportunities, especially, early on in the game and try to get everybody a little bit more into the rhythm," said Coen. "You dial some stuff up early and it works. You dial some stuff up later and it doesn't. Typically, the ball goes where it does."
The Jaguars get their next opportunity to do just that at home at EverBank Stadium against the New England Patriots.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Are Jaguars WR Jakobi Meyers' low targets concerning? Lawrence says no
