Jaguars fans got a little jolt on Tuesday when Brian Thomas Jr. went down on a play and didn't come back. Per Mia O'Brien, the second-year receiver was shaken up on the play and stayed on the sideline the rest of the session.
Brian Thomas Jr. (shoulder) shaken up on a play, per @MiaOBrienTV He has been on the sideline since.
For a Jaguars team that leaned on Thomas as its clear No. 1 target as a rookie, any shoulder scare is going to get people's attention fast. He came out of LSU as the 23rd overall pick in 2024 after leading the FBS in receiving touchdowns the year before, then went out and put up 1,282 yards and 10 scores as a rookie -- numbers that put him in the same 1,200-yard, 10-touchdown rookie class as Odell Beckham Jr. and Ja'Marr Chase. That's the kind of production Jacksonville isn't looking to gamble with in a meaningless practice rep.
Coen didn't let the moment linger. Asked about Thomas afterward, he kept it simple and calm.
Liam Coen on BTJ: "I think he’s alright, just fell on his shoulder. Holding him out was smart. Get him ready for Cleveland."
"I think he's alright, just fell on his shoulder. Holding him out was smart. Get him ready for Cleveland," Coen said, framing the whole thing as caution rather than crisis. That's the standard approach for a coaching staff with a real opener on the calendar and nothing to prove in August.
That opener is no small thing, either. The Jaguars host the Browns in Week 1 on September 13, and Jacksonville built its offense around Thomas taking a real step forward in year two. Sitting a star receiver for a handful of practice reps in late August is a rounding error if it means he's full-go for that game. Expect the Jaguars to keep managing his reps carefully the rest of camp, with no real update likely until closer to the regular season.