The Jacksonville Jaguars had a successful trip to London. They turned their 1-2 record into a 3-2 one as they prepare to take on the Indianapolis Colts, who they already played and beat in Week 1.
Despite losing in their season opener, the Colts won three of their last four and are also 3-2. So the Jaguars can’t expect to face a cakewalk.
The Colts will be without starting quarterback Anthony Richardson, who’s now on the team’s injured reserve. Their fill-in is Gardner Minshew II, who started for the Jaguars to begin his NFL career.
Here are five Jaguars players to watch in their Week 6 matchup against the Colts:
QB Trevor Lawrence
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has been the key to Jacksonville’s success all season. He didn’t have a perfect performance in the season opener against the Colts, but he still led the team to victory.
Against a passionate and familiar Minshew, Jacksonville’s offense will need to be clicking, and so will Lawrence.
The last time he played against Indianapolis, Lawrence ended the day with 24 completions on 32 attempts for 241 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. That might not be enough if the Colts are rolling on offense.
It’ll be up to Lawrence to build on his Week 5 performance.
WR Calvin Ridley
One of wide receiver Calvin Ridley’s two 100-yard games this season came in Week 1 against Indy. The Lawrence-Ridley connection was the most effective aspect of that matchup, and it may need to be again.
Lawrence and Ridley haven’t always been on the same page, but Ridley’s two best games came in wins, so the connection is clearly important.
In Week 1, Ridley had eight catches for 101 yards and a touchdown. More of the same will be needed in Week 6.
ILB Foye Oluokun
Linebacker Foye Oluokun did what’s expected of him in Week 1 against the Colts. He tallied a team-high 13 tackles with a deflected pass and a quarterback hit.
For the past two weeks, Oluokun has been playing alongside Chad Muma, who filled in for the injured Devin Lloyd. Whether its Muma or the less-than-100 percent Lloyd plays Sunday, Oluokun will need to pick up the slack, regardless.
The Colts’ offense will likely be less dynamic than when it has Richardson, but Minshew has the ability to provide extra juice to an offense.
OLB Josh Allen
In a perfect world, the Jaguars would get linebacker Josh Allen to do exactly what he did in Week 1. In the first game of the season, Allen tallied three sacks.
However, the first game allowed him the opportunity to give Richardson his “welcome to the NFL” moment. Now, he faces a more experienced Minshew, who has shown an ability to evade tackles even when he looks to have no chance at an escape.
Allen achieved another three-sack game against the Atlanta Falcons, so it’s he can clearly replicate that success.
OLB Dawuane Smoot
Defensive lineman Dawuane Smoot may make his season debut Sunday. His 21-day window to return from the PUP list was opened ahead of the Jaguars’ game against the Buffalo Bills, but he didn’t end up getting activated.
He has been limited in practice, but after full participation Wednesday, it seem likely that he’ll see the field for the first time Sunday.
Smoot has been one of the most consistent members of the defensive front for Jacksonville over the last few years. If he returns, his arrival could give more energy to the Jags’ defensive line.
