Trevor Lawrence knows what it’s like to have a team that isn’t united. He saw it during his rookie year in 2021 with former Jaguars coach Urban Meyer. Lawrence believes this season feels very different from that rough time three years ago.
“I shouldn’t even have to answer it,” Lawrence said when asked about a claim that coach Doug Pederson has lost the trust of his players. “Not at all, and I don’t know where that’s coming from, so I don’t even want to really expand on something that’s just not true.”
The Jaguars are the only team in the NFL without a win. This is the sixth time the team has started a season 0-4, and it’s the first time this has happened without a head coach in his first or second year.
Pederson and the Jaguars have lost nine out of their last ten games, dating back to last season. This year, they’ve had two late-game losses and a disappointing performance in a prime-time game. However, Pederson claims that there’s no trouble among the players.
“Yeah, I would know. I talk to these guys every day,” Pederson said. “I see ’em every day and, no, I have not lost the locker room. I think these guys have done everything I’ve asked.
“They continue to play and practice hard and battle, and it’s a good group. It’s a good group. The right leaders are in there and they know what we need to do and they’re not making excuses for it, and I’m not going to make excuses; we just got to go do it.”
The Jaguars will face Indianapolis (2-2) on Sunday, aiming to extend their home-winning streak against the Colts to ten games, including one game played in London.
Pederson’s team showed improvement in a 24-20 loss to Houston last week, but they missed several chances to win. Lawrence overthrew three receivers, including two who could have scored touchdowns, and Gabe Davis let a pass bounce off his facemask in the end zone.
Right guard Brandon Scherff missed a key play on a fourth-and-goal, and the defense couldn’t make a stop when it was needed most.
