Jaguars vs. Colts: 5 Players To Watch in Week 6
The Jaguars return home for their first game back in Jacksonville after a two week vacation in London. In their return, Jacksonville will face off against their in-division rivals, the Indianapolis Colts -- who will be led by an old friend, Gardner Minshew. This game will be the team’s first chance to steal the division for their own and start to separate themselves from their three division rivals.
Here are five players to watch Sunday against the Colts.
QB Trevor Lawrence
Trevor Lawrence played a near flawless game this past weekend against the Buffalo Bills, besting Josh Alen for the second time in his career. Aside from lost fumbles, Lawrence was surgical, completing 25 of 37 passes for 315 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. While he’s been good all year, this game he was simply different.
The Jaguars now play the Colts for the final time and have the opportunity to win both games of the series, setting themselves up nicely at 2-1 against division rivals. If Lawrence can keep playing the way he did against the Bills, this should be an easy win. Lawrence may even get his first big touchdown day.
WR Calvin Ridley
Calvin Ridley started the season off red hot, catching 8 balls for 101 yards and a touchdown in Week 1 against the Colts in round one. Following his standout first game with the team, the Lawrence-to-Ridley connection seemed to have lost its initial spark. That was until last week against Buffalo.
Lawrence found Ridley early and often, slicing and dicing a banged-up secondary for seven receptions for 122 yards. This week Ridley has the chance for a second big game against the Colts, who despite having an underwhelming secondary, enter this week’s matchup 3-2. If Lawrence and Ridley can get going, the Jaguars should no doubt be victorious.
OG Tyler Shatley
Sunday, against a solid Colts’ defensive front, the Jaguars will be without their best pass-protector as Walker Little is out with a knee injury. In steps the tested and true, Tyler Shatley.
Shatley is among the longest-tenured Jaguars and has been an excellent depth piece for the team for the better part of a decade. He’s as reliable as they come but concerns arise when he is asked to be a starter long term. Shatley will see time against All-Pro DeForest Buckner and the emerging Samson Ebukam. Shatley’s performance will be key to keeping Lawrence upright on Sunday.
DL Dawuane Smoot
Dawuane Smoot is back! The Jaguars’ pass rush has been awfully suspect this season as it is really just the one-man wrecking crew of Josh Allen. Now the Jaguars will have both better depth and hopefully better production with the return of No.91.
In 2022, Smoot was one of the team’s better pass rushers, racking up 36 pressures and six sacks. While I don’t expect Smoot to immediately bounce back from his Achilles injury, his impact shouldn’t go without notice. It’s important to note the Colts will also be without offensive guard Braden Smith.
LB Devin Lloyd
Another player who is returning from injury, Devin Lloyd is coming off of a nagging hand injury and is set to play Sunday in a cast. With the Colts’ prolific rushing attack and a Gardner Minshew-led short-area passing attack, the Jaguars’ linebacker play will be paramount to victory.
Lloyd has bounced back after an up-and-down rookie season. Despite missing the last two games, the young linebacker is tied for second in the NFL among linebackers with 3 pass breakups. If Lloyd can help shut down Indianapolis' threatening run game and disrupt Minshew's throwing lanes, the Jaguars’ defense will be in great position to take their third victory in a row.
