Jaguars’ Week 16: Backups and a Mistake

With the Jaguars’ week 16 matchup on deck, the Jaguars are set up to have a tough time beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Trevor Lawrence is dealing with multiple injuries, including a concussion. The offense lost another receiver in Zay Jones, and the defense is still not at 100% health. Between all the backups and the, the Jaguars have an uphill battle to face against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

For the Jaguars, the season’s theme has been “Mistakes” and the Jaguars’ week 15 performance showed how those mistakes have begun to mount. The Jaguars’ week 16 matchup against the Buccaneers is one that, especially if the Jaguars will be without Trevor Lawrence, the mistakes have to be completely snuffed out.

Jaguars’ Week 16: Two Matchups to Watch

Jaguars’ Receivers vs. Buccaneers Cornerbacks

There is no more important part of the Jaguars’ week 16 matchup than the injury to Trevor Lawrence. While Lawrence is the most important part of the Jaguars’ offense, the Jaguars wide receivers, plus Evan Engram, will be the most relied-upon piece of the offense in the Jaguars’ week 16 matchup.

Calvin Ridley, Parker Washington, Jamal Agnew, Evan Engram, and Tim Jones will be leading the charge against one of the more vulnerable defensive backfields in the NFL. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are ranked seventh worst in the NFL according to PFF in coverage, and the Jaguars’ week 16 matchup is going to predicate on the Jaguars receivers taking advantage of the Buccaneers backfield.

The main weapon for whoever gets the start at quarterback will be Calvin Ridley, while the second wide receiver will either be Parker Washington or Jamal Agnew. The wide receiver depth of the Jaguars has been tested in 2023, and the Jaguars’ week 16 matchup will rely on the backups making up for the absence of the starters.

Christian Kirk and Zay Jones will both miss a prime matchup and while Evan Engram and Calvin Ridley are good receiving options, the offense will undoubtedly take a step back. This would be even further emphasized if the Jaguars were without Trevor Lawrence and were forced to start C.J. Beathard.

Jaguars’ Cornerbacks vs. Buccaneers Wide Receivers

The same matchup, but the other side of the ball. This time, the Jaguars’ week 16 matchup features the increasingly banged-up defensive backfield facing an incredibly dominant wide receiver room.

Headlined by Mike Evans, the Buccaneers’ wide receiver room is incredible. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are the two noteworthy names to mention. While the depth outside of these two isn’t the same as other teams in the league, the Buccaneers have an argument to make that their wide receiver room is one of the best in the NFL.

Chris Godwin could potentially be the number one receiver on the Jaguars roster, and he’s behind Mike Evans on the Buccaneers receiving corps. Darious Williams and Tre Herndon are the two main corners for the Jaguars that can be relied on, and facing two incredible receivers both Williams and Herndon will have their hands full.

The Jaguars’ week 16 matchup will be decided by the wide receivers and the corners. Mike Evans is the best receiver on the field, and Godwin could be considered the second-best. For a Jaguars defensive backfield that’s been dealing with injuries, facing a great wide receiver corps will be a challenge for Darious Williams and Tre Herndon.

Injury Report

Jaguars’ Week 16 Injury Report

• QB C.J. Beathard (Left Shoulder) – No Designation
• CB Christian Braswell (Hamstring) – Questionable
• CB Tyson Campbell (Hamstring) – Questionable
• FS Andre Cisco (Groin) – Questionable
• WR Zay Jones (Knee/Hamstring) – Questionable
• OG Ezra Cleveland (Knee) – No Designation
• QB Trevor Lawrence (Ankle/Concussion) – Questionable
• OT Walker Little (Hamstring) – No Designation
• TE Brenton Strange (Foot) – Questionable

The Jaguars’ week 16 injury report has a lot of key players tagged with a questionable designation. Trevor Lawrence is the most noteworthy player with an injury designation, as if he were to be ruled out it’d be the first game Lawrence misses all 2023 season. This is noteworthy for many obvious reasons, but especially since the Jaguars starting quarterback hasn’t had to miss a game despite multiple injuries.

Zay Jones is questionable, but he’s less likely to go according to Doug Pederson. With Jones out, the Jaguars will have to rely on their backup receivers, something that most teams struggle to deal with, especially this late into the season.

The defensive backfield is the other big injury concern. Christian Braswell and Tyson Campbell are two questionable players. If both were to miss, the Jaguars’ corner back room would be incredibly limited. Unfortunately, the Jaguars don’t have any leeway, as the Jaguars’ week 16 opponent has two fantastic wide receivers, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.

Brenton Strange is on pace to play, which would be a huge boost to the Jaguars offense, especially with the wide receiver room banged up.

Buccaneers’ Week 16 Injury Report

• S Antione Winfield Jr. (Calf) – Questionable
• WR Rakim Jarrett (Quad) – OUT
• DT William Gholston (Knee/Ankle) – Questionable

In contrast to the lengthy Jaguars’ week 16 injury report, the Buccaneers have a much lighter injury report. Rakim Jarrett isn’t a main contributor to the Buccaneers’ offense, while Antione Winfield and Williams Gholston are the only players who are questionable.

If either Gholston or Winfield were to miss, the much more impactful loss would be Antion Winfield Jr. With a struggling defensive backfield, losing one of the better players would be a tough loss to overcome for the Buccaneers. But, overall, the Buccaneers have a much better injury situation than the Jaguars, and have the advantage heading into the Jaguars’ week 16 matchup.

Jaguars’ Week 16 Matchup Prediction

While not a great season up until this point, the Jaguars season at 8-6 is the record that I had the Jaguars at heading into the Jaguars’ week 16 matchup in my preseason predictions article. Every week I make predictions, and while recent weeks have been a struggle for the Jaguars, there’s a chance to rebound against a Buccaneers team that has dealt with their shortcomings.

I had initially had this game as an easy win for the Jaguars, but the injuries the Jaguars have suffered make things significantly difficult. However, I still believe that the Jaguars are suited to beat the Buccaneers. With the chance that Tyson Campbell returns, the Jaguars defense will be much better off. But, the most important thing that will decide the Jaguars game will be the starting quarterback.

Trevor Lawrence or C.J. Beathard, either way, it’s not a great position to be in for the Jaguars. A banged-up Trevor Lawrence or backup C.J. Beathard for Doug Pederson and the Jaguars. Fortunately for the Jaguars, Doug Pederson has had a lot of success with backup quarterbacks in his head coaching NFL tenure.

I think the Jaguars’ week 16 matchup goes to Jacksonville, regardless of who starts at quarterback. This Jaguars team can go toe-to-toe with some of the best in the NFL, especially ones they match up well against. The Buccaneers have great weapons on offense, but a very beatable defense, something the Jaguars desperately need after facing a tough defense in the Baltimore Ravens.