The Jacksonville Jaguars are reportedly keeping wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. through the trade deadline, shutting down months of buzz that the former Pro Bowler might be on the move. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN dropped the news that the Jags have told interested teams their plan is locked in, and barring some wild surprise, Thomas Jr. isn’t going anywhere. For the Los Angeles Rams, who are staring down an increasingly large void at receiver, this means one less option to fix their passing game.
Jags Are All In, No Deals
Look, it is not a huge shocker from Jacksonville’s side. They have been screaming from the rooftops that they are going “all in” on a Super Bowl run this year, and man, they are not messing around. In just over 24 hours, they went out and grabbed safety Jessie Bates III, plus defensive linemen Davon Godchaux and Jordan Davis. To get those deals done, they sent out a massive pile of draft picks: a first, two seconds, a fifth, and a sixth. Yeah, you read that right. Their general manager, James Gladstone, used to work in the Rams’ front office, so he knows a thing or two about making moves, and he is clearly prioritizing keeping his roster intact.
So, where does that leave the Rams? Thomas Jr. might not be on the same level as a healthy Puka Nacua, who is now on injured reserve, or Davante Adams, who has already missed several weeks with a hamstring issue. But even with a couple of disappointing seasons compared to his monster rookie debut, the guy is still a talented player. He has that speed and skill combo that Los Angeles just does not have right now. He would not have solved every single problem in their passing attack, but he definitely could have helped. Now, it is back to the drawing board for L.A.
Time For Josh Downs To Shine?
With Thomas Jr. officially off the market, the hottest name on the trade block is now looking like Josh Downs from the Indianapolis Colts. You have to feel for the guy a little bit, playing for a “bad Colts offense” with an “even worse quarterback” in Daniel Jones this season. Despite that, Downs has pulled in 33 receptions for 354 yards and one touchdown, numbers that are just below his career averages in terms of raw output and per-game efficiency. The man is a true slot receiver, taking over 52% of his snaps there this year, which is the third-highest rate in the entire NFL. That is not a bad thing for the Rams’ offense, though. If Nacua and Adams can (hopefully) get healthy, Downs could slide right in and fit perfectly alongside them.
And get this, when Josh Downs was asked if he wanted to stick with the Colts, his response was just about as subtle as a sledgehammer: “You know, I mean …” He paused, whispered, “You funny for that,” and then finished with, “I said I’m open to whatever, and if they want me to stay here, I’mma stay here, and if they don’t … they’ll trade me away.” That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement, is it? The message is clear: he is ready for a change.
Beyond Downs, the options are getting pretty thin out there. The Philadelphia Eagles are apparently “open for business,” which could make Dontayvion Wicks an option, but after that, it is slim pickings. The Rams cannot afford to be picky right now; they need talent, and they need it fast.
What a crazy trade deadline it is shaping up to be. The Rams have a huge decision coming up, and fast. Do they go all out for Downs, or is there another play we just haven’t seen yet? This could define their season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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