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Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., isn't trying to hide from a sophomore year that saw his production go down and his mistakes, such as drops and marginal route-running, increase.
But neither is he dwelling in the past.
Trade rumors? Armchair critics? Social media noise?
Thomas is leaving that for those who want to immerse themselves in that toxic mix.
He claims not to have heard it, but he's also working to make sure his performance in the field during the 2026 season drowns it all out.
"I'm trying to be better, try to come out here and correct this year, clean up a lot of the drops," he said on June 1 after the Jaguars practiced at the Miller Electric Center. "A lot of small things that I didn't do last year ... just [coming] out here and correcting those things, being better every day."
Thomas flashed for a second OTA in a row in which the media was allowed to watch the entire practice. He caught one deep pass from quarterback Trevor Lawrence down the left sideline and added a couple of catches over the middle.
Since the rap on Thomas last season was that the middle wasn't his favorite piece of geography, it might be a promising sign.
But what's more promising is what's coming from coach Liam Coen and Lawrence about the work Thomas has put in during the OTA phases so far this season.
“It's been great," Lawrence said about Thomas' work ethic this offseason. "We've put a lot of work in throughout all spring really of just trying to get the timing down, the chemistry ... get on the same page, and it's starting to pay off. He's super committed to it and so am I and I think us getting those extra reps is paying off."
Coen actually praised Thomas for posting the numbers he did in 2025 while struggling with his injuries and suddenly unsure hands.
“I guess fantasy [football players] care a lot about that, Coen said. “I know we won 13 games. But the ball gets spread out in this offense to multiple players. It doesn’t really feed through one person. I’m very pleased with the way he has attacked this offseason, the way he takes it to the meeting room to the practice.”
Thomas lived up to his selection in the first round of the 2024 draft by setting the Jaguars' rookie records for receptions (87), yards (1,282) and touchdowns (10) during an otherwise lost season.
The expectation with Coen's arrival is that the offense would take a step forward and it did — for most of the players. Lawrence, wide receiver Parker Washington, tight end Brenton Strange and running back Travis Etienne (who left in free agency for New Orleans) all had banner seasons.
But not Thomas. He dipped to 48 receptions, 707 yards, and only two touchdowns. He missed three games with injuries and tied for second among NFL wide receivers with 10 drops.
The drops started coming in training camp and kept shadowing Thomas all season.
He said he's working on it, and said running better routes and also on the small but important parts of his craft will go towards building more trust from Lawrence.
"We are coming out here each and every day, putting our best foot forward, doing the little things that it takes to be better," he said. "Growing that chemistry, getting a lot of work in for after practice, during practice, talking through it."
Thomas said just talking football with Lawrence isn't something to fill the time from the field to the locker room.
"Talking through it a lot is really the main thing," he said. "Being able to talk through it, talk through routes, seeing how he sees it, seeing how he likes it."
It was a hot topic during the spring months leading to free agency: were the Jaguars shopping Thomas?
General Manager James Gladstone finally shut down the trade rumors on March 12 when he called them "fraudulent."
He also expressed concern for Thomas' state of mind about hearing the rumors.
"I care more for what weight that might put on Brian himself when it's something that's entirely out of his control and unnecessary," Gladstone said.
Gladstone needn't have worried, Thomas said.
"I try not to focus on it ... everybody's entitled to their own opinion," Thomas said. "I try not to pay attention to. I changed my mindset on a lot of things, and I just try to stay focused and stay motivated."
He also said he had assurances from management that he was very much a part of the Jaguars' future.
"It gives me a lot of confidence that they still have faith in me," he said. "They still know what I can do, what I can bring to the table. I wasn't worried about it. I'm not really on social media as much."
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr., works on 'small things' to return to 2024 form
Continue reading...
But neither is he dwelling in the past.
Trade rumors? Armchair critics? Social media noise?
Thomas is leaving that for those who want to immerse themselves in that toxic mix.
He claims not to have heard it, but he's also working to make sure his performance in the field during the 2026 season drowns it all out.
"I'm trying to be better, try to come out here and correct this year, clean up a lot of the drops," he said on June 1 after the Jaguars practiced at the Miller Electric Center. "A lot of small things that I didn't do last year ... just [coming] out here and correcting those things, being better every day."
Thomas flashed for a second OTA in a row in which the media was allowed to watch the entire practice. He caught one deep pass from quarterback Trevor Lawrence down the left sideline and added a couple of catches over the middle.
You must be registered for see images
Since the rap on Thomas last season was that the middle wasn't his favorite piece of geography, it might be a promising sign.
But what's more promising is what's coming from coach Liam Coen and Lawrence about the work Thomas has put in during the OTA phases so far this season.
“It's been great," Lawrence said about Thomas' work ethic this offseason. "We've put a lot of work in throughout all spring really of just trying to get the timing down, the chemistry ... get on the same page, and it's starting to pay off. He's super committed to it and so am I and I think us getting those extra reps is paying off."
Coen actually praised Thomas for posting the numbers he did in 2025 while struggling with his injuries and suddenly unsure hands.
“I guess fantasy [football players] care a lot about that, Coen said. “I know we won 13 games. But the ball gets spread out in this offense to multiple players. It doesn’t really feed through one person. I’m very pleased with the way he has attacked this offseason, the way he takes it to the meeting room to the practice.”
Thomas trying to reach his rookie form
Thomas lived up to his selection in the first round of the 2024 draft by setting the Jaguars' rookie records for receptions (87), yards (1,282) and touchdowns (10) during an otherwise lost season.
The expectation with Coen's arrival is that the offense would take a step forward and it did — for most of the players. Lawrence, wide receiver Parker Washington, tight end Brenton Strange and running back Travis Etienne (who left in free agency for New Orleans) all had banner seasons.
You must be registered for see images
But not Thomas. He dipped to 48 receptions, 707 yards, and only two touchdowns. He missed three games with injuries and tied for second among NFL wide receivers with 10 drops.
The drops started coming in training camp and kept shadowing Thomas all season.
He said he's working on it, and said running better routes and also on the small but important parts of his craft will go towards building more trust from Lawrence.
"We are coming out here each and every day, putting our best foot forward, doing the little things that it takes to be better," he said. "Growing that chemistry, getting a lot of work in for after practice, during practice, talking through it."
Thomas said just talking football with Lawrence isn't something to fill the time from the field to the locker room.
"Talking through it a lot is really the main thing," he said. "Being able to talk through it, talk through routes, seeing how he sees it, seeing how he likes it."
Thomas said he ignored trade rumors
It was a hot topic during the spring months leading to free agency: were the Jaguars shopping Thomas?
General Manager James Gladstone finally shut down the trade rumors on March 12 when he called them "fraudulent."
He also expressed concern for Thomas' state of mind about hearing the rumors.
"I care more for what weight that might put on Brian himself when it's something that's entirely out of his control and unnecessary," Gladstone said.
Gladstone needn't have worried, Thomas said.
"I try not to focus on it ... everybody's entitled to their own opinion," Thomas said. "I try not to pay attention to. I changed my mindset on a lot of things, and I just try to stay focused and stay motivated."
He also said he had assurances from management that he was very much a part of the Jaguars' future.
"It gives me a lot of confidence that they still have faith in me," he said. "They still know what I can do, what I can bring to the table. I wasn't worried about it. I'm not really on social media as much."
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr., works on 'small things' to return to 2024 form
Continue reading...
