This time a week ago, there was a lot more optimism surrounding the Jacksonville Jaguars. Since then, injuries have once again ravaged the roster and the Jaguars were victim to an embarrassing home defeat against Kansas City.
The defense allowed quarterback Patrick Mahomes to tally up 378 yards in the air during an undisciplined display, which saw Myles Jack ejected for a fight in the end-zone.
Fans and coaches are hoping for a quick turnaround on defense to try and take some of the pressure off of new starting quarterback Gardner Minshew II. This became more difficult Saturday after cornerback A.J. Bouye (hip) joined defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (hamstring) on the list of players ruled OUT on Week 2’s injury report, whilst Ronnie Harrison (ankle) was downgraded to questionable.
These injuries will make it much harder for the Jaguars to stay competitive with such a high-powered Texans offense, but opens up the opportunity for other defensive players to step up and make a name for themselves with a standout performance.
With that in mind, here are three defensive players to watch against the Houston Texans:
DE Josh Allen
The Texans traded two first-round picks for offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and still allowed 18 pressures on Deshaun Watson last week. Allen would have been on this list even if Yannick Ngakoue was healthy because the opposing offensive line resembles a block of Swiss cheese.
If the Jaguars let the more experienced Calais Campbell line up against Tunsil, then Josh Allen will be able to have a more favorable matchup against right tackle Seantrel Henderson for four quarters.
Jacksonville has a history of stockpiling sacks against the Texans, and if Allen can get at Watson early and often, it will at least give the Jaguars a shot at staying in this game.
CB D.J. Hayden
D.J. Hayden is the Jaguars’ second-best corner heading into Sunday’s game by default. The Texans have one of the better wide receiving corps in the entire league, and with A.J. Bouye out with a hip injury, the responsibility on Hayden goes up tremendously.
Hayden has solely been asked to play in the slot since signing with the Jags, and that likely won’t change Sunday as Tre Herndon will likely start on the outside. That said, it will be interesting to see whether the Texans attack Hayden in the slot with their various talented pass catchers throughout the game to see if he can handle the pressure.
Not only is Sunday’s performance huge for the seventh-year corner in the context of the game, but it also could have ramifications on his career moving forward. Jacksonville has a potential out on Hayden’s contract at the end of this season, accounting for only $1.3 million dead money against the cap, or they will have to pay their slot corner $7.6 million in 2020 whilst trying to pay Ngakoue and Jalen Ramsey. Considering this, it’s unlikely the Jags would keep him at $7.6 million, but maybe if he proves his worth Sunday something can be worked out to retain the veteran down the road.
LB Quincy Williams
The Texans have a stellar running back duo in Duke Johnson Jr. and Carlos Hyde, who combined for 19 carries and five catches as Houston scored 28 points against the Saints last Monday.
With these two backs being so heavily featured and Watson being a threat to break away himself, Myles Jack is going to need help from his rookie comrade, Quincy Williams, if they are to keep the Texans’ offense off the field.
The feedback on Williams’ Week 1 performance (which was his debut) varies depending on who you ask, as the rookie exited the game early with knee soreness. However, the third-round pick will be full-go against the Texans and is going to have to play well this season if the Jaguars aren’t going to miss the impact of Telvin Smith.
He could see an increase in snaps if Ronnie Harrison is out. Given his speed and experience playing safety in college, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Williams be tasked with covering the Texans’ running backs and tight ends. For those reasons, it could be a very big day for the 23-year-old.
