The Jacksonville Jaguars probably didn't expect Parker Washington to become the No. 1 WR in the unit, yet somehow, he has managed to rise to the occasion when the wide receiver room became depleted with injuries and inconsistent performances. Originally the fourth-string receiver, Washington is making a case to be a key part of the offense.
Last season, Brian Thomas Jr. had an incredible rookie season, and the newly-drafted Travis Hunter was on a hot streak to start the year. But now both are injured, and even before that, Thomas was in a serious sophomore slump. That left Washington to pick up the slack, and he's done it in a big way.
The Jags have struggled with drops and miscommunications from their receivers this season, with Washington as the obvious exception. At this point, he could easily be expected to take an even bigger role through the rest of the season, but for now, he's taking the opportunity in front of him and running with it. And head coach Liam Coen has noticed just how good he's become.
The under-the-radar Parker Washington has emerged as a weapon for the Jaguars
In recent media remarks, Coen pointed out that Washington has been thriving ever since training camp, when he worked hard to make a name for himself.
"He's been one of our top-performing receivers since training camp," Coen said. "He's worked his tail off to learn the system since we got here. He's one of the first guys in the building every day, takes super care of his body, very intentional about the way that he practices and goes about his business. And then on Sundays, he's made plays for us in a lot of ways. And you know, he's definitely trusted."
Having a receiver you can trust and rely on is vital to winning on Sundays; while quarterback Trevor Lawrence has had some ups and downs this season, he also hasn't had a ton of go-to receivers to work with. Washington is changing that, week by week. And fans can expect to see him help Jacksonville continue winning. Below is Coen's full exchange with reporters. His remarks about Washington start at the 9:17 mark.
"He's somebody we count on to continue to make plays," Coen continued. "Obviously, the first play of overtime was a great example of that, where he's used in the slot a lot, and we put him out at one-on-one opportunity, and he goes up and makes a play. So lot of respect for Parker and continue to help us win games back."
That extra effort Washington is putting in has clearly been paying off. He's having a breakout season, and it was just in time to rescue Lawrence from his cast of underperforming receivers.
Parker Washington along with Jakobi Meyers, is building great chemistry with Lawrence, and the Jaguars should seriously consider keeping him around next year.