The Jacksonville Jaguars are sitting at 1-1, but the mood in Duval County isn’t as balanced. Instead, the talk is circling around wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. So far, it looks like the sophomore slump is real.

Trevor Lawrence was expected to take a step forward, which should have lifted Thomas and rookie Travis Hunter with him. However, neither wideout has shown up on Sundays. Instead, Parker Washington and Brenton Strange are making the plays. That has Jaguars fans frustrated, and it has team legend Jimmy Smith calling out Thomas for not pulling his weight. After the game, Smith didn’t hold back. On X, he blasted Thomas, saying, “Stop being scared of getting hit! Catch the damn ball!”

But he did not stop there. Later on Jax Sports Radio, he explained Thomas needs to study how Michael Irvin played the position. “Michael Irvin wasn’t a speed guy. He wasn’t a 4-4 guy. He was more like a late 4-5 probably an early 4-6 Yeah, but he made up for that was his stance being down. Michael Irvin used to come off the ball in a three-point stance early his career in Miami,” Smith explained.

What Smith meant was simple. Irvin didn’t have blazing speed, but his stance gave him an edge. Unlike Thomas, who stands straight up at the line of scrimmage, Irvin stayed down. That technique allowed him to explode out of his breaks and run routes at the same pace as guys with 4.3 or 4.4 speed. So while the stopwatch said one thing, on the field, he looked just as fast. That’s the kind of edge Smith believes Thomas has to develop.

Finally, Smith had one more shot, this time at the whole team. He urged them to reset their mindset. “You know that you see the end of the lot of the season and then go on social media and everybody’s bashing you’re talking about how bad of a team you are that’s terrible to go through, and you know that, that mentality starts setting in without you even knowing it you have that loser mentality.” It was blunt, but Smith made it clear: talent isn’t enough if the Jaguars don’t drop the losing habits. However, Jags has full faith in Thomas Jr.

Jaguars stand behind Brian Thomas Jr.

Even with Brian Thomas Jr off to a slow start, the Jaguars aren’t ready to hit the alarm. The fanbase may be restless, but the team still sees the second-year wideout as a difference-maker. They believe it’s only a matter of time before he finds his rhythm.

Through two games, the numbers aren’t pretty—5 receptions on 19 targets for 60 yards. Drops have been an issue, which is a surprise given the flashes he showed as a rookie. Yet Thomas isn’t hiding from it behind the lingering wrist issue he has been dealing with. “The wrist is not an excuse,” Thomas told reporters this week. “I own the drops. I know I have to be better.” That honesty says plenty about his mindset. Instead of pointing to injuries, he’s taking responsibility.

That accountability is winning him respect inside the locker room. Head coach Liam Coen backed him strongly when asked. “Yes, it’s huge,” says Coen. “You’ve got a very talented player that we want to continue to try to get the most out of, put him in a position to be successful, and continue to have his back.” Coen reminded everyone that the season is young, and overreactions do more harm than good.

Now the focus shifts to Sunday’s AFC South clash with the Texans at the EverBank Stadium. For Trevor Lawrence, Thomas remains a central piece. “He’s too good a player to not be involved,” Lawrence said. “I’ve got all the confidence in the world in him. I’m excited for just another opportunity for him this week to get going.” Is Thomas’ breakout just around the corner?