Liam Coen’s Plans for Jaguars Backfire After $14M Injury Scare at Training

Liam Coen did not dance around expectations when he became the boss in Jacksonville. “Just that physical mindset… Are they playing through the echo of the whistle? … I want them playing on the edge. It’s a violent game. They have to be that way,” he explained in an offseason media session. From the very first day, the message was clear and loud: This team would be defined by grit, contact, and controlled chaos. But in just one official camp with the Jaguars, that same hard-hitting mentality already might have gone too far.

The physical way of doing things on the practice field. The way Liam Coen himself was a proponent of, as necessary, has now raised early alarm after a scare surrounding their most prized offensive asset. Brian Thomas Jr., the offense’s star wideout and projected WR1 going into 2025, exited minicamp cradling his shoulder after a rough landing on 11-on-11 work. While Coen dismissed the injury as a bruise, the timing couldn’t be worse and the risk more evident.

“We’re going to have to be physical with each other,” Coen acknowledged. “That’s just the bottom line… right now we’re trying to continue to find our edge.” With just a single joint practice on tap before the season, Liam Coen indicated the tone had to be established from within. “Ultimately, we’re going to have to do it with each other at times. You’ve got to control it and make sure that we’re doing it the right way.” 

Thomas was attempting to herd a pass from Trevor Lawrence when he was hit hard on his right shoulder. Trainers took him directly to the indoor complex for examination. He made it back to the sideline, but the injury made everyone rethink the risk-reward dynamic that is at the center of Coen’s “find your edge” philosophy. It’s one thing to espouse toughness; it’s another to jeopardize your best players in advance of the opener.

Jacksonville’s front office did not trade Christian Kirk and cut Gabe Davis for their WR1 to report to camp in injury rehab. Coen designed his remodeled attack around Thomas, expecting him to take another step forward after catching 87 passes for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie. His chemistry with Lawrence was improving. His route tree was expanding. But now, with even small setbacks, the Jaguars are left holding their breath and praying Coen’s take on “edge” doesn’t equate to pushing one’s luck in late July.

$14 Million reason to pump the brakes?

Though the Jaguars avoided a bullet with Thomas’s bruised shoulder, the scare delivers an important message. There’s a fee for being physical, and occasionally that tab is due in camp. Thomas’s $14 million rookie deal reflects not only raw ability but expectation for the future. He’s the WR1 now. The man’s defense will scheme against. The one fans expect to be Jacksonville’s next star. Any upset in that course of action destabilizes the intricate chemistry Coen is attempting to manufacture.

“Anytime guys go down, it’s never fun to see,” Coen admitted. “And we’ve been really blessed and fortunate.” He kept the tone light and even gave Thomas the green light to return. But the fact he didn’t re-enter the drills speaks louder than any PR line. Precautionary or not, the optics of your best player sidelined in a non-contact month under a hard-hitting philosophy is a red flag.

Coen inherited a Jaguars team that underachieved in 2024. There was momentum early in the season, but the team collapsed down the stretch and out of the playoffs. Injuries were a factor, sure, but an inability to establish a consistent rhythm on offense and an inability to dominate the trenches plagued them. The Jaguars brought in Coen to rectify that. He’s working to build a culture that competes in the margins. Where mental and physical fortitude closes out games. But no philosophy endures without staff. If Thomas falls, who picks up the slack?

Looking ahead to 2025, there’s real anticipation for the offense with Lawrence, Thomas, and first-year tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders. They overhauled the line, updated the play-calling, and reinvigorated the locker room. But it all depends on medical reports. In that regard, Coen’s task is less about putting toughness in and more about knowing when to rein it in. He wants his team to play beyond the echo of the whistle. But he doesn’t want that echo reaching the trainer’s room.