The Jaguars are going 4-1 after 5 games. Head coach Liam Coen is happy with the way the team is performing. Yet he and his locker room also accept the fact that it took a Devin Lloyd‘s 99-yard interception return and Trevor Lawrence‘s stumble touchdown to win the Monday Night Football game. This made him accept the challenges in their way.

“I don’t want to say we’re the most pi—d off for one team, but there are definitely some feelings in the building over the last few days knowing that we haven’t played a full 60 minutes of our best football,” the HC replied when asked if their success has gotten to their heads. But he then admitted the defensive struggle, “We probably didn’t have our best efforts in stopping the run, something that we had been doing at a pretty good level there.”

The Jags couldn’t sack Patrick Mahomes even once, while the Chiefs sacked Lawrence 3 times for 11 yards. Moreover, Kansas recorded 8 QB hits while Liam Coen’s team only logged 1 QB hit throughout the week 5 matchup. The Chiefs even forced a fumble on their rivals.

That’s what brought the coach to the offensive challenge. “Then the same thing offensively, right? We punted twice, but we had the fumble at the goal line, and then the turnover. We’ve got to continue to try take care of the football at a higher click,” the Jaguars HC added. That was clearly visible in the game.

The Chiefs had 3 TDs in 22 rushes for 158 yards, but their rivals only scored 2 TDs in 26 catches for 109 yards. Even Mahomes also recorded 97 more passing yards with the same scores and picks (one each). With 1:45 minutes remaining in the game, the Chiefs took a 4-point lead with 28-24.

Kansas thought that they had sealed the game. But Trevor Lawrence pulled out a miracle rushing TD with just 23 seconds left on the clock. It was groundbreaking. The Jaguars won their first game since 2009 after losing eight consecutive matchups. Now, they are riding high on confidence.

However, the coach also has to make some changes after hitting the injury roadblock.

Liam Coen is ready for changes after RB is set to miss time

The Jacksonville Jaguars placed tight end Brenton Strange on injured reserve with a hip injury on Tuesday, October 7th. The good news is that the injury is not season-ending. But per NFL rules, Strange must miss at least four games. This means the earliest he can return is Week 11 against the Chargers. Strange got hurt during the Jaguars’ 31-28 MNF win.

The injury happened without contact. He bent over after running a route in the second quarter and didn’t return to the game. Strange has been a key part of Jacksonville’s offense, leading the team with 20 catches this season. To help fill the void, the Jaguars are leaning on tight ends Hunter Long, Johnny Mundt, and Quintin Morris.

“Hunter Long has stepped up in a big way. Johnny Mundt did a few good things the other night, and Quintin Morris has been improving on special teams. I have confidence in that room to continue to help us in both the pass game and the run game,” Liam Coen said about the incoming changes.

Hunter Long has played 5 games this season. He has caught 7 of 8 passes for 44 yards. He has also scored 2 touchdowns. Long averages 6.3 yards per catch and has helped the team pick up 4 first downs. Johnny Mundt has caught 2 of 4 passes for 14 yards. He averages 7 yards per catch. Mundt also helps in blocking and on special teams, giving the Jaguars depth behind Long and Quintin Morris.

Together, these three tight ends are helping keep the Jaguars’ offense balanced. They are filling in for Strange in the passing game, helping in blocking, and supporting the run game.