Jacksonville’s wide receiver group had a mixed outing against the Bengals. Parker Washington was the clear bright spot, catching all 5 of his targets for 76 yards. Despite the production, the passing game never fully clicked, with Trevor Lawrence missing on timing throws and the group failing to convert key third downs. Most of the attention fell on Brian Thomas Jr., who was targeted 12 times but came away with just 4 catches for 49 yards, ending what was ultimately a frustrating day for HC Liam Coen.

“Brian had that drop and, you know, the ball bounced off his hands,” a reporter said while questioning Coen. The coach shut it down carefully but firmly. “Yeah, we got to, I got to go watch it, you know, and just go go figure out what that, you know, was all about and what it looked like,” he said. “Um, yeah. I got to go take a look at that.”

And after the film review? No drop, no quit on routes, and no shying from contact. Instead, it looked like a miscommunication on the throw and maybe a defender getting a hand in late. Two of the incompletions were on tight window throws, one a second quarter sideline shot broken up by DJ Turner, another a fourth quarter slant where the timing was just a hair off, forcing Thomas to adjust and miss by inches. There was also a third-quarter end zone target that Lawrence sailed just over Thomas’ hands, wiping out what could have been six points.

Thomas Jr. himself didn’t hide from the moment when he was asked postgame. “S–t, I dropped the ball, I got to catch it,” Thomas said bluntly. When pressed about whether he was still in a good place mentally, he was confident. “Yeah, I feel like I’m in a great place, confident wise.” And when asked what keeps him steady through games like this, he doubled down. “I mean, I know what I’m capable of, I know what I can do, so yeah, that’s it.”

That matters because Thomas Jr. was targeted 12 times and still finished with 4 catches, working against heavy coverage. So rather than scapegoating the receiver, Coen seems focused on keeping him involved and building confidence. For a team looking to bounce back in Week 3, that might be the smartest play of all.

Liam Coen has been given a reality check by the fans

After the Jaguars’ loss, fans did not hold back, and Brian Thomas Jr. took the brunt of it. But if you stack the fan outrage against his track record, it feels like an overreaction more than a referendum on his future.

“BTJ with one of the most pathetic efforts I’ve ever seen from a wide receiver. If he’s going to play like this, sit him down.” This comment sounds harsh for a player who just came off an 87 catch, 1,282-yard rookie season with 10 touchdowns. Thomas was Jacksonville’s most explosive receiver in 2024, averaging 14.7 yards per catch and leading the team in deep plays. One slow game does not erase that production.

Another fan mentioned, “Awful body language all day. S—y attitude after the game. Feels like a diabolical sophomore slump and it is only Week 2.” The body language critique is common, but it overlooks the fact that Thomas is still getting open and still drawing top coverage. A sophomore slump would mean regression in effort or route running. Neither showed up on tape.

“He s—s. Trade him to the Cowboys for a fifth-rounder and be done with it,” wrote a disappointed fan. Trading a 22-year-old after one quiet game is an overreaction. Even in 2025, Thomas has been heavily involved; he has seen 19 targets through two games, plus had a rushing attempt that went for 9 yards and a touchdown. That is not a player the Jaguars are phasing out.

“Coen better light a fire under him because this is not the guy we thought we were getting.” Liam Coen admitted he needs to review the film, but his message was not punitive. It was about figuring out what went wrong so they could get Thomas more involved. That is the right approach when you have a potential cornerstone wideout.

Another fan commented, “Legit one of the worst wide receiver performances I’ve ever seen from a so called number one option. Unacceptable.” Yes, it was statistically rough: 7 targets, just 1 catch for 11 yards in the last game. But Trevor Lawrence was under heavy pressure, forcing timing throws to come out early. One near touchdown in the third quarter could have flipped the entire conversation.

Thomas’ rookie resume shows why the Jaguars are not panicking. He has proven production, elite athletic traits, and the ability to stretch defenses. The frustration from fans is understandable, but the smarter play is to lean into Thomas’ talent rather than scapegoat him after one bad Sunday.