Entering Week 6,ESPN's Bill Barnwellhas put together his early list of players and coaches who he believes are on the hot seat, and included was a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
By Barnwell's own acknowledgment, a sample size of five games is still small, but there's also an established body of work to evaluate.
So which Jaguars player made Barnwell's list? Wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.
The reason for this isn't only Thomas Jr.'s lack of production with nine catches for 105 yards through five games, but his role within the offense seems to be shrinking as well.
"The coaching staff also doesn't seem particularly desperate to get the 2024 first-round pick on the field, with Thomas playing just 48.2% of the offensive snaps," wrote Barnwell. "In
recent weeks, the Jaguars have preferred rookie sixth-round pick Josh Cameron to Thomas for his blocking and big-play ability, particularly when they get into larger personnel groupings."
Barnwell adds that Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers are the clear top two options at wideout, while the emergence of Nate Boerkircher at tight end has led to more heavy personnel groupings.
This offseason, there was an emphasis on Trevor Lawrence and Thomas Jr. building their rapport, particularly on downfield throws. That chemistry between the two seemed to be trending in the right direction during training camp.
That said, Thomas Jr.'s fit within the Liam Coen offense is yet to really take off. While he thrived as a bona fide No. 1 target as a rookie, this system isn't predicated on having that presence; rather, the scheme operates most efficiently when the ball is being spread around.
Thomas Jr.'s ability to stretch the field still offers plenty of value to the offense, even if the ball doesn't go his direction, with the attention that he draws opening up opportunities for others.
Although the Jaguars have maintained their stance that they won't be trading Thomas Jr., Barnwell believes the team should consider it.
"Trading Thomas would also open up more opportunities for Travis Hunter, who has played just 21 offensive snaps while starring on defense," he wrote. "The organization has repeatedly insisted that it has no interest in trading Thomas, but at some point, having a valuable young player wasting away on your bench can't be the best thing for the player or the team."
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: ESPN puts Jaguars player on hot seat after start to season
