Jaguars look for a savior in Jake Luton with Minshew out

By Dustin Fletcher| gargoyle@flagler.edu

Sunday, the jaguars will play the Houston Texans at home in a divisional game. The Jaguars have been predictably bad, with a decent quarterback. Now, they will turn to a rookie sixth round pick to try to turn their luck. Gardner Minshew will miss out with a fractured hand. In week five, the jaguars lost 30-14 in the road game.

Brandin Cooks had eight catches for 161 yards and a touchdown in the other matchup. David Johnson nearly rushed for 100 yards for the first time since 2015. Deshaun Watson threw for 359 yards and three touchdowns, albeit with two interceptions.

The biggest knock on the Texans had been their run defense, but they held James Robinson to just 48 yards on 13 carries in week five. 

The Jaguars could and should look to D.J. Chark in this one, as he leads the team in targets however has been largely ineffective with Minshew in the fold at quarterback. If Luton can hit his marks and put out some money throws, Chark should have a big day with Bradley Roby sitting out for disciplinary reasons. That means Vernon Hargreaves will be on the Jaguars number one target, which could possibly spell for a big day.

The Texans defense also takes a huge hit with Whitney Mercilus, Jacob Martin and Dylan Cole will also miss the game on the COVID-19 reserve list, which should be kind to the young offense for Jacksonville.

The Jaguars should do their best to get out early in this one and try to use Robinson to grind the game out rather than getting in a track meet with Deshaun Watson and the home run hitters on this Texans offense. The defense HAS to take away David Johnson and force Watson into making errant throws with some blitz packages, or this secondary will be eaten alive by the deep ball and crossing routes. Houston has speed in abundance, which JJacksonville struggled with in week seven against the Chargers.

The Jaguars would be best off keeping this one close and losing, keeping them in prime position for Justin Fields. Send it.

Everyone together, DUUUVAL!

Sunday, it will be Texans 34, Jaguars 20.