Tennessee @ Jacksonville preview
EverBank Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jan 7, 2023 ) Tennessee 16, Jacksonville 20
The Tennessee Titans and host Jacksonville Jaguars will be eager to put a tally in the win column when they meet Sunday.
The Jaguars (6-3) saw their five-game winning streak come to a halt with a 34-3 dismantling by the San Francisco 49ers this past Sunday. Jacksonville surrendered three passing touchdowns to Brock Purdy, while Jaguars' quarterback Trevor Lawrence tossed a pair of interceptions and was sacked five times.
"They want to right the ship," Jacksonville coach Doug Pederson said Wednesday. "Seeing the guys today, they're obviously disappointed, they're dejected -- not our best performance. You're only as good as your last game. You put that on tape.
"All our opponents moving forward are going to watch that film and that's not good. I do think the guys really embraced it. It means something to them, which is good. I'm sure they'll bounce back."
The loss to the 49ers marked the first multi-interception game of the season for Lawrence, who has been picked off six times while throwing nine touchdowns through nine games. He's completed 67.3 percent of his passes this season 2,120 yards.
Lawrence said Wednesday that he'll continue to wear a brace on his left knee. He practiced Thursday and Friday and his mobility is improving after suffering the injury during the Jaguars' win over the Colts on Oct. 15.
"I'm starting to feel comfortable and I'm happy about the progress I've made," Lawrence said. "We've been able to protect it the last few weeks. I'm excited to, hopefully, finally kind of get going and just play normal, move around, all that stuff."
The Titans (3-6) have lost back-to-back games, falling to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a pair of road games.
Against Tampa Bay last Sunday, Tennessee failed to get its running game going as Derrick Henry and Tyjae Spears combined for just 42 rushing yards. Rookie Will Levis, in his third start, completed just 19 of 39 passes for 199 yards and an interception.
"We know how much the (division) games count," Levis said ahead of facing the first-place Jaguars. "Obviously, every game is going to be a bloodbath, but it just seems like, for those division games, you have to step up and bring your best to the table or you're going to get kicked in the mouth."
The Titans will be missing some notable starters for their first meeting of the season with the Jaguars.
Cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting (hand) returned to practice on Wednesday but was ruled out for the game. Wideout Treylon Burks and offensive lineman Andre Dillard were ruled out as both players remain in concussion protocol. Offensive lineman Daniel Brunskill (ankle) and linebacker Luke Gifford (shin) are questionable.
For the Jaguars, wideout Jamal Agnew (shoulder, ribs) and cornerback Tyson Campbell (hamstring) will miss the game. Wide receiver Zay Jones, who was arrested on a misdemeanor domestic battery charge Monday, was a limited participant in practice throughout the week and is questionable with a knee injury.
"It's still ongoing, fact-finding, information gathering, things of that nature," Pederson said. "Quite honestly, until we hear something, it's day-to-day for him."
Also questionable are offensive lineman Anton Harrison (back), defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris (ankle) and wide receiver Parker Washington (knee).
Jacksonville won both of its meetings with Tennessee last season.
The Jaguars will visit the Titans on Jan. 7 in the regular-season finale.
--Field Level Media