Jaguars vs. Browns: 5 Players to Watch

Two injury riddled teams facing off in expected windy, chilly and possibly snowy Cleveland weather, what could go wrong? This faceoff will no doubt be a war of attrition with two mysteries surrounding the team’s starters at quarterback. 

Clues this week point towards Trevor Lawrence and Joe Flacco starting for their respective teams, however, it sounds as though both decisions at the position will be reserved until just before kickoff. With so many injuries, nasty weather, and mystery at quarterback, the running games and defenses will likely take the load off the shoulders of these two teams.

Here are five Jaguars to watch if they are to beat the Browns in the ‘Dawg Pound’ Sunday.

Travis Etienne

It’s certainly disappointing that fans won’t be able to see two of the league’s best tailbacks in the NFL faceoff as Cleveland’s Nick Chubb suffered a season-ending knee injury earlier this year. Luckily for Jacksonville, Travis Etienne enters Sunday as one of the team’s healthier players despite dealing with a chest injury the last couple weeks.

Etienne remains as good as ever, regardless of the poor run-blocking that has been offered before him for much of the year. The young running back remains the NFL’s leader in missed tackles, forcing 59 missed tackles thus far. With the injury to Lawrence’s ankle and more spread across the offense, Doug Pederson and the remainder of the coaching staff will look to Etienne to carry the load Sunday.

Parker Washington

Welcome to the NFL Parker Washington! Many Jaguars fans wondered when they would see the rookie receiver, Parker Washington. This past weekend, they got their answer. Washington was electric, coming up big in the biggest moments, including a crucial touchdown snag.

Christian Kirk was recently placed on the injury reserve after suffering a core injury early in the first quarter against the Bengals this past weekend. The Jaguars primary slot receiver, Offensive Coordinator Press Taylor will now look to Washington to fill Kirk’s shoes, no doubt a tough ask. Coming off of a six-catch, 61-yard, touchdown performance in his offensive debut, we will see what is to come for the former Nittany Lion Sunday.

Ezra Cleveland

It seems as though the Jacksonville Jaguars will pivot towards Ezra Cleveland to be their emergency left tackle following recent injuries to both Cam Robinson and Walker Little. What’s the concern? Well, Cleveland has never played left tackle in the NFL before, or even the tackle position in general.

Who am I to tell him he can’t? However, assuming he does start Sunday at left tackle, he will line up across from one of, if not, the very best pass rushers in the National Football League, Myles Garrett. With Lawrence coming off of a scary right ankle injury in addition to his left knee brace, pass protection will be of the utmost importance Sunday. Ezra Cleveland’s performance will be paramount to the Jaguars’ offensive success.

Josh Allen

It’s becoming harder and harder to write these ‘Five Players to Watch’ articles without mentioning everyone’s favorite sack artist, Josh Allen. Allen has always been a good football player worthy of re-signing. However, now he’s become an invaluable piece of the defense, a leader on and off the field, a franchise cornerstone.

With the recent emergence of Travon Walker on the opposing side, the Jaguars pass rush duo has begun a reign of terror for opposing quarterbacks. In the last two weeks alone, the duo has collected 27 pressures and five sacks. It’s Allen, though, who has entered himself into Defensive Player of the Year discussion with 13.5 sacks on the season. With the immobile Joe Flacco possibly starting, Allen could see the opportunity to potentially break Calais Campbell’s 14.0 sacks record.

Foyesade Oluokun

Few players are as underappreciated by the national media as Foyesade Oluokun. Oluokun currently leads the NFL in tackles and if he finishes the year doing so, would become just the second player in NFL history to lead the league three seasons in a row. The other being Jessie Tuggle from 1990-1992.

It isn’t just Oluokun’s tackling proficiency that goes unnoticed. Oluokun is the leader of the defense and has greatly aided in the development of fellow Jaguars’ linebacker Devin Lloyd as well. The team faced communication issues this past weekend and should rely on Oluokun for stability and consistency to stay ahead in what will likely be nasty weather conditions.