Team news: Jacksonville Jaguars | Page 3

In the first two weeks of the season, Jaguars No. 2 overall pick Travis Hunter played more offensive snaps than defensive snaps.

That trend flipped in Jacksonville’s Week 3 victory over Houston.

Hunter was on the field for 37 offensive snaps (53 percent) and 43 defensive snaps (68 percent).

Related players: Brian Thomas Jr., Dyami Brown, Parker Washington

He’s now played 59 percent of Jacksonville’s offensive snaps this year and 47 percent of defensive snaps, plus four percent of special teams snaps, the story said. But the more concerning news is his usage. He had one pass for 21 yards on two targets in Week 3. He had eight targets in Week 2. Hunter has 10 receptions for 76 yards, with only two of his catches resulting in first downs this season. He's now a huge question mark for fantasy lineups heading into Week 4.

Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. (wrist) is off the injury report and good to go Sunday.

Meanwhile, Texans WRs Christian Kirk (hamstring) and Braxton Berrios (hamstring) are both off the injury report and set to make their season debuts.

Related Players: Travis Hunter, Dyami Brown, Nico Collins, Xavier Hutchinson, Jayden Higgins

Brian Thomas should continue to be slotted in as a fringe WR1/2 play, with Christian Kirk is much further down the list as a WR4/5 as the ball continues to be spread around behind Collins.

DQ says Chris Rodriguez will "be back into the fold" but that he's good with Bill as a pass blocker: "We feel comfortable...We wouldn't have put him in if not."

Related players: Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Chris Rodriguez, Jeremy McNichols, Donovan Edwards, Chase Edmonds

It seems like Croskey-Merritt will be in line to get a big part of the workload with McNichols also factoring in. McNichols is also known as a good pass protector, so the Commanders seem comfortable with either back playing in passing situations. It remains to see how much Rodriguez is involved after being inactive for Weeks 1 and 2. The team also just signed Edmonds to the practice squad, but it looks like Rodriguez will at least see work as the team's RB3.

Jaguars WR Brian Thomas had an NFL-worst -9.1 receiving EPA yesterday. Next closest player in Week 2 was at -6.8.

Previous career low for BTJ was -5.5. Pretty easily worst game of his career

There have been reports out Monday that BTJ is dealing with a wrist injury as well, although Shipley didn't get into that aspect. The wrist injury also wasn't on the injury report. Shipley did say BTJ's third worst game of his career was in Week 1 of this season against the Panthers, so that's maybe the bigger concern for owners. Shipley added that Thomas Jr. and QB Trevor Lawrence are not only not on the same page, they're not even in the same book, and it dates back to training camp. He feels that issue carried over into Week 1. BTJ's possible wrist injury will be something to monitor this week. It's a potentially tough matchup against the Texans defense in Week 3 for the Jags.

Running back Chase Edmonds, who last played with the Bucs in 2023, is signing to the Commanders' practice squad. Veteran back joins a talented, young backfield after Austin Ekeler's Achilles injury.

Related players: Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Chris Rodriguez, Jeremy McNichols, Donovan Edwards

Edmonds played under OC Kliff Kingsbury in Arizona as well, so this move makes some sense for the Commanders. However, Edmonds likely won't make a fantasy impact right away, if at all. Edmonds is expected to still be behind Croskey-Merritt and McNichols, and probably Rodriguez too, who should at least has a chance to be active on game days going forward.

Commanders believe veteran RB Austin Ekeler did in fact tear his Achilles during Thursday night’s loss at Green Bay. Ekeler still needs to undergo imaging that is scheduled Friday for confirmation.

Related Players: Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Jeremy McNichols, Chris Rodriguez

Rodriguez has been a healthy scratch twice to begin the season and wasn't pegged for the third-down role to begin with, so we should imagine most of the work will go to Croskey-Merritt and McNichols, unless the Commanders bring in another body (which is very possible). For now, JCM should be boosted into legit RB2 consideration based on matchup, while McNichols is somwhere in the RB4/5 range.

Trade: Jaguars are sending RB Tank Bigsby to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for 2026 fifth- and sixth-round picks, per sources.

Related players: Saquon Barkley, A.J. Dillon, Will Shipley, Travis Etienne, Bhayshul Tuten, LeQuint Allen, Ja'Quinden Jackson

For the Eagles, this seems like a bit of a surprise, but definitely adds some depth. Reports since the trade say Bigsby could be the Eagles kick returner. Shipley and Dillon each got three carries in Week 1 behind Barkley, but Bigsby seems like more of an upgrade for Dillon as both are more of between the tackles runners. For the Jaguars, many were waiting for one of Bigsby or Etienne to get moved, but after Etienne ran for 143 yards on 16 carries in Week 1, the Jags look to be comfortable giving Etienne the RB1 job. It's good news for Tuten owners, as the rookie now looks to be the team's RB2, and can probably be added in most leagues if he's on your wire.

The Jaguars are planning to use rookie Travis Hunter as an “every-down receiver” and a “situational cornerback” Sunday against the Panthers.

Hunter has worked at both positions all summer but seemed to get more work on offense, as the Jaguars have viewed him as more of a receiver ever since they traded up to No. 2 overall in the draft to select him. It was always going to be a challenge for Hunter to play both sides for a high number of snaps but there was always the chance he’d get at least some work on both sides. Hunter will be the No. 2 receiver behind sophomore Brian Thomas Jr. Currently, Hunter checks in as WR30 this week.

The Raiders are signing WR Justin Shorter off their practice squad. He replaces the retired Amari Cooper on the 53.

Related Players: Jakobi Meyers, Jack Bech, Dont'e Thornton, Tre Tucker, Brock Bowers

Shorter just converted from TE to WR this season, so we wouldn't expect him to make enough of an impact to be fantasy-relevant. If anything, the trade-off from Cooper to Shorter should solidify the roles of the young options in Las Vegas.

Comeback no more: Raiders WR Amari Cooper has informed the team that he no longer has the desire to play and intends to retire, per The Insiders.

Cooper had signed at the end of camp in a hopeful reunion with the team that drafted. Now, he’s headed home from Las Vegas.

Related Players: Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker, Dont'e Thornton, Jack Bech, Brock Bowers

Well that was short-lived. Meyers should continue to be in WR2/3 consideration, while it's best to take a wait-and-see approach for the young receivers behind him.