The Jacksonville Jaguars made enough plays to edge out the Arizona Cardinals 27-24 in Week 12. And part of the reason they managed to come out on top was that their difference-maker delivered in the clutch.
Trevor Lawrence had four turnovers but also led several scoring drives, including the game-winner. Similarly, linebacker Dennis Gardeck showed out against his former team, while safety Andrew Wingard and the rest of the defense made several key stops, including the Cardinals' failed comeback attempt.
On the other hand, a handful of players were non-factors. Three, in particular, barely made an impact in the win over the Cardinals. It's worth noting that cornerback Greg Newsome and wide receiver Dyami Brown weren't among them because they've struggled throughout the season, so it wasn't particularly shocking to see them get minimal playing time.
Maason Smith, Jaguars defensive tackle
Maason Smith hasn't been able to build off of his strong finish to 2024. Early in the season, you could've made the case that he missed time in training camp with an injury, so he needed time to hit his stride. However, it's been a few months since then, and the former LSU Tiger still hasn't been able to make an impact.
Sure, Smith is No. 3 on the defensive tackle depth chart, but he would either pass DaVon Hamilton or get more playing time if he made the most out of his snaps. That hasn't been the case. The 2024 second-round pick has yet to register his first sack of the year and logged a neutral-zone penalty just before halftime in the win over the Cardinals.
The sophomore slump has hit Smith the hardest, and it's hard to picture him getting an expanded role the rest of the season.
Quintin Morris, Jaguars tight end
Before the Cardinals game, head coach Liam Coen heaped praise on Quintin Morris, and rightly so. The Bowling Green product stepped in when injuries struck the tight end position. But now that Brenton Strange and Hunter Long are back in the fold, he saw a dip in playing time.
In the Week 12 win, Morris logged only six snaps and posted a Pro Football Focus overall grade of 52.1. Jacksonville will lean on him again if the injuries hamper the position, but don't expect him to get much playing time as long as Strange and Long manage to stay healthy.
It's not that Morris is bad. Simply, the Jags have better options ahead of him.
Bhayshul Tuten, Jaguars running back
The Jaguars have several needs ahead of the offseason, but you can't blame most of their role players for giving their all. That's why it was a bit tough to find players who have really struggled. That said, running back Bhayshul Tuten had a down game just one week after posting a season-best 74 yards on 15 carries.
Against the Cards, the former Virginia Tech Hokie toted the rock seven times for 17 yards. His 2.7 yards per carry were a season low. In his defense, fellow running back Travis Etienne has also had a few unremarkable performances, so nobody will bat an eye if Tuten bounces back and breaks off a few big runs the rest of the way.