Injuries are pushing the training camp depth to the absolute limit in Jacksonville. Between keeping tabs on each interior starter’s medical file, Liam Coen finally got a sliver of hope in the latest Parker Washington injury update.
Rookie Washington quietly shifted to the sideline this week due to an undisclosed injury, but the Jaguars claimed he would be back by next week. ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed the claim, saying Washington is set to be back in practice again starting next week.
“Jaguars WR Parker Washington, who missed practice this week for an undisclosed injury, is expected to return to practice next week,” Schefter said.
Washington still remains out for Friday night’s preseason game 2 against the Panthers, but depth is all the Jaguars want right now given the catastrophic condition their offense interior is.
Parker Washington WR1 Frontrunner for Jaguars
GettyJacksonville Jagaurs WR Parker Washington back to practice from preseason Week 3.
Injuries are sweeping Jaguars positional depth, especially tackle and guard. In a crisis like one that the Jaguars are suffering, getting a player like Washington back is a massive sigh of relief for Coen.
His quick return drops him right back into the thick of Jacksonville’s wideout battle.
Even with all the Brian Thomas Jr. hype and Jakobi Meyers getting an upper hand in the week of practice that he missed, Washington still has an unmistakable WR1 case. In just a few months, Washington became a go-to target for Trevor Lawrence.
“On the field, off the field, you know, the communication is different, and then obviously, the trust he’s having in me on some of these passes is really cool,” Washington said about his chemistry with Lawrence earlier this month.
“I know a couple years ago, he probably wouldn’t throw some of the passes he’s throwing out to me, so it’s just really cool to just, for him to have that trust in me, and I’m gonna continue to make sure that he has that, and I’m gonna make those plays for him.”
Washington’s absence, even if it was just for a week, put a temporary halt to the rhythm he had going on with Lawrence. Schefter’s confirmation of his return is a massive sigh of relief because Coen has one more shot, their preseason Week 3 game, to see the two take a few live snaps.
Since he is entering the final year of his rookie contract, it also sets up the stage for him to outperform expectations and bump up his ceiling from the current estimated $55 million market value tag.
WR Room Competition Intensifies
GettyJacksonville Jagaurs WR Parker Washington back to practice from preseason Week 3.
With Washington back, the narrative now shifts to how Coen splits the reps between him, Thomas Jr., Meyers, and two-way star Travis Hunter.
However, Washington and Meyers clearly have the upper hand.
ESPN’s Michael DiRocco reports that Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers have been getting the most snaps among Jaguars wide receivers at training camp.
His report also mentioned how the Jaguars are “reluctant” on taking washington off the field, and that BTJ and Hunter “have shared reps” on the perimeter in 11 personnel, but Washington has been a lock in the central slot role.
The Jaguars fans may not see it against the Panthers, but by Week 1, the clear WR1 will be official, and finding Washington on the chart would be largely expected.
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