2023 Jaguars’ Week Seven: Primetime in New Orleans

The Jaguars are going primetime for the first time in the 2023 NFL season!

In the Jaguars’ week seven matchup, the Jaguars face off against the Saints in New Orleans. There are always some issues with a Thursday night football matchup, which is even more apparent for the Jaguars in 2023. Trevor Lawrence is banged up heading into the primetime matchup, and with less time to heal, it jeopardizes Lawrence’s status.

Jaguars’ Week Seven Headline: Trevor Lawrence Health

There’s no secret, Trevor Lawrence is in jeopardy of missing Thursday night football. If he were to miss, C.J. Beathard and Nathan Rourke would be the quarterbacks. However, things seem to be trending towards Lawrence playing. At least, that’s what Lawrence himself has been saying.

Preseason standout Nathan Rourke will be the player fans want to see, and who can blame them after his incredible play in the first preseason game? But, Rourke won’t be getting the start, with the veteran C.J. Beathard getting the start if Lawrence sits. Nathan Rourke was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster as a third quarterback and will be active for the Jaguars game in New Orleans.

Some may point to his activation as a sign Lawrence is going to miss the Jaguars’ week seven matchup, there’s a chance that his activation is just in case Lawrence is banged up. As many NFL fans saw in the NFC Championship game, having a third active quarterback can’t hurt. Especially in the Jaguars case, it’s important to have an extra quarterback in case Lawrence gets further banged up and has to come out of the game. Having an extra option at the most important position isn’t a bad idea when your starter comes into a short week hurt.

While Lawrence is the most important aspect of this game for the Jaguars’ week seven matchup, there are still three key matchups that deserve to be looked at further.

Jaguars’ Week Seven: Three Matchups to Watch

Jaguars Offensive Line vs. Saints Pass Rush

It’s been a theme of the Jaguars season: how will the offensive line hold up? Week six had a much better outcome for the Jaguars offensive line, with multiple players having some of the best games of the season. Luke Fortner and Tyler Shatley held up incredibly well, which is exactly what this Jaguars offense needed after allowing a ton of pressure through the first five weeks of the NFL season.

In the Jaguars’ week seven matchup, the productivity of the offensive line is paramount to the teams’ success. With a banged-up Lawrence, Fortner and Shatley will have to pick up where they left off against the Colts. The other members of the offensive line will be tasked with an equally important task, especially the offensive tackles.

Brandon Scherff and Anton Harrison have also had their ups and downs, and lately have been playing better football. Cam Robinson’s return has allowed the offensive line to be more complete. Now, the Jaguars are dealing with a Scherff injury which could force another starter along the offensive line to miss a game. One of the Jaguars’ week seven matchups to pay close attention to is this offensive line against the Saints’ offensive line.

The matchup this week might be one of the toughest the Jaguars will face all season long. Cameron Jordan is one of the better edge rushers in the NFL. Carl Granderson has become an incredibly underrated player and has more than earned his big payday from the Saints. The rookie Bryan Bresee provides an extra challenge for the interior offensive lineman. While Demario Davis is an x-factor from the linebacker position.

It’s a tough matchup for the Jaguars offensive line, and this matchup is the most important one in the Jaguars’ week seven Thursday night football matchup. Protecting Lawrence, after his knee injury, is paramount to ensure Lawrence doesn’t take a beating.

Chris Olave and Michael Thomas vs. Jaguars’ Corners

Another pivotal matchup in the Jaguars’ week seven matchup is the Jaguars’ cornerbacks against Chris Olave and Michael Thomas. Similar to the Jaguars offensive line being tasked with overcoming an injury, the Jaguars cornerbacks will be down Tyson Campbell, who got hurt in week six.

Without Campbell, the Jaguars will have to rely on Darious Williams and Tre Herndon to lead the defense. Fortunately, Darious Williams has been one of the better corners in the NFL in 2023. With a minimum of 200 snaps, Darious Williams grades out as the second-best cornerback in the NFL in coverage according to PFF. Williams also has the most coverage snaps without allowing a touchdown in the NFL with 257 snaps without allowing a touchdown.

Chris Olave and Michael Thomas are the two main threats the Jaguars will have to contain. Olave is one of the more dynamic receivers in the NFL, and Michael Thomas is a well-renowned veteran who has a history of being a dominant receiver. While Thomas may be past his prime, he’s still an incredible receiving option for New Orleans Saint quarterback Derek Carr. Those two are the main weapons for the Saints’ passing attack in the Jaguars’ week seven matchup.

While the Saints’ offense has struggled through six weeks, Darious Williams and Tre Herndon will have their hands full with these two dynamic receiving weapons. That’s also without mentioning the inclusion of Rasheed Shaheed, the Saints’ deep threat who has a knack for long touchdowns.

While Williams and Herndon have been great for the Jaguars, the lack of depth in the cornerback room is a huge storyline. Against an above-average wide receiver room, there will be opportunities for the Saints offense to move the ball. This matchup between the Saints receivers and the Jaguars corners is one of the most important matchups of the Jaguars’ week seven primetime game.

Jaguars’ Pass Rush vs. Saints Offensive Line

Similarly to the Jaguars dealing with an injury at cornerback, the Saints are dealing with their injury issues along the offensive line. It’s two starting offensive linemen that are down for the Saints. Ryan Ramczyk (Concussion) and James Hurst (Ankle) are the two offensive line injuries that the Saints are dealing with. Both players being out means the Jaguars defensive line will be matched up against two backup offensive linemen in the Jaguars’ week seven matchup.

It’s been no secret that Josh Allen has been one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, and this matchup in primetime is a fantastic one to make his name known in all circles around the NFL. Not only does Josh Allen have a chance to put his name amongst the best defensive linemen, but so does Travon Walker.

With Aiden Hutchinson playing incredibly well in his early career, the Jaguars selection of Walker has been heavily scrutinized. But, with a matchup against backup offensive linemen, Travon Walker has a chance to showcase the improvement that he’s seen in 2023. The Jaguars’ week seven matchup is going to be decided along the trenches, and Travon Walker has a chance to make his presence felt in primetime.

Dawuane Smoot can also make a difference and should see more work in his second week back from injury. He played a good amount of snaps right out of the gate, but with some more time to practice and get back into the groove of playing in the NFL, Smoot has a chance, just like Walker and Allen, to make his mark on primetime.

Another reason for this matchup being so important is how it can impact the other key matchup for the Jaguars’ defense in the secondary. If the Jaguar’s defensive line can generate pressure and give Derek Carr less time to throw, it’ll allow for the depleted secondary for the Jaguars less of an issue. Generating pressure is one of the keys to victory in the Jaguars’ week seven matchup, and the matchup in the trenches will dictate the outcome of this primetime showdown.

Injury Reports for Thursday Night Football

Jaguars’ Week Seven Injury Report

• CB Tyson Campbell (Hamstring) OUT
• DT DaVon Hamilton (Back) OUT
• WR Zay Jones (Knee) OUT
• OT Walker Little (Knee) OUT
• QB Trevor Lawrence (Knee) Questionable
• OG Brandon Scherff (Ankle) Questionable

 

Zay Jones, Tyson Campbell, DaVon Hamilton, and Walker Little being out aren’t huge surprises after missing week six. But, their absence in the Jaguars’ week seven matchup will be noticed, especially for Tyson Campbell.

On the other side of things, Brandon Scherff is questionable for Thursday night football and could be a huge absence for the Jaguars. It would lead to Blake Hance filling in at right guard, which would also mean that both offensive guards would be backups for the Jaguars. But, he’s far from the most notable injury, as Trevor Lawrence is questionable for the Jaguars’ week seven matchup.

If Lawrence were to miss, it would be C.J. Beathard leading the Jaguars offense, with preseason standout Nathan Rourke backing him up. While there’s concern that Lawrence will miss, he’s been vying to play all week long and has practiced, albeit limitedly, the past two days.

Saints Week Seven Injury Report

• TE Juwan Johnson (Calf) OUT
• DB J.T. Gray (Hamstring) OUT
• OT Landon Young (Hip) OUT
• G James Hurst (Ankle) OUT
• OT Ryan Ramczyk (Concussion) OUT
• OLB Demario Davis (Knee) Questionable
• CB Lonnie Johnson (Hamstring) Questionable
• DE Cameron Jordan (Back) No Designation
• FS Tyrann Mathieu (Foot) Questionable
• WR Chris Olave (Toe) No Designation
• OG Andrus Peat (Groin) No Designation
• RB Jamaal Williams (Hamstring) Questionable
• QB Derek Carr (Right Shoulder/Chest) No Designation

A lengthy injury report for the Saints ahead of Thursday night football. Multiple players have already ruled out, including two starting offensive linemen and the Saints starting tight end. Another injury concern is the health of Demario Davis, who’s dealing with a knee issue, and Tyrann Mathieu with a foot injury. While both have a chance to play, if either one were to miss it would take an extra layer of pressure off the Jaguars’ offense.

Predictions for Jaguars’ Week Seven Thursday Night Football

The Jaguars’ week seven primetime matchup features a Saints team that has played up and down to opponents in 2023. The Jaguars, if Lawrence plays, will be one of the better teams the Saints face in the 2023 season. For the Jaguars, coming into this game at 4-2 seemed like the most likely scenario for the first third of the season.

In my predictions made at the beginning of the season, I had the Jaguars at 4-2 heading into their primetime game against the Saints. Now, that they sit at that record, things feel back on track for the Jaguars. I had the Jaguars winning in the pre-season, and that’s not changing after what’s happened in the past six weeks.

I predict the Jaguars’ week seven matchup against the Saints ends with a Jaguars victory, beating them for the first time since 2003, and getting to 5-2 on the season.