As speculation grows around Brian Thomas Jr.'s future with the Jacksonville Jaguars, ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler shared what he is hearing about the situation.
Coming off a down season in Year 1 under Liam Coen, Thomas Jr.'s role this year has continued to decrease. This includes playing just 15 snaps -- with none coming in the second half -- in Week 6 against Houston. Thomas Jr. also has no receptions over the Jaguars' last two games.
Adam Schefter reported recently that the Jaguars have "shown no signs of engaging in trade talks" about Thomas Jr. However, Fowler's latest intel suggests that those around the NFL think Thomas Jr.'s time with the team is nearing an end.
"League execs are sensing the end for BTJ in Jacksonville, as his targets
and playing time have dipped," Fowler wrote. "How Jacksonville has struggled to make this relationship work is still a mystery. ...And teams are circling with interest."
On Monday, Coen reiterated his confidence in Thomas Jr., saying, "He's going to be able to help us make plays this week."
That said, it remains to be seen where exactly Thomas Jr. fits in the current iteration of the Jacksonville offense.
Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers lead the way at wideout, while Josh Cameron has earned more opportunities, and we could potentially see Travis Hunter's role on offense expand. Not helping Thomas Jr. either is the Jaguars' use of heavy personnel packages.
Thomas Jr. adds a vertical presence to the offense that not only can lead to explosive plays but can draw attention to help create opportunities for others. His combination of speed and route running allows him to make an impact at each level of the field.
Not surprisingly, as ESPN's Matt Bowen put it, "He has the traits to still draw interest," despite the lack of production.
"At 6-foot-3 and 209 pounds, Thomas has the profile of an X receiver who can separate at multiple levels of the field," Bowen wrote. "I see legit straight-line speed and ball-tracking ability."
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Latest trade intel on Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr.
