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          Jags rookie Brian Thomas Jr. hauls in 62-yard touchdown pass

          Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
          • Michael DiRocco, ESPN Staff WriterDec 23, 2024, 12:03 AM
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              Michael DiRocco is an NFL reporter at ESPN. DiRocco covers the Jacksonville Jaguars. He previously covered the University of Florida for over a decade for ESPN.com and Florida Times-Union. DiRocco graduated from Jacksonville University and is a multiple APSE award winner. You can follow DiRocco on Twitter at @ESPNdirocco.
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          The Jaguars' offense was struggling, sputtering and trailing against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, so Jacksonville did the most logical thing: QB Mac Jones threw the ball deep to rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr.

          On third-and-8 from the Jaguars' 38-yard line, Thomas simply ran down the field near the left sideline. Raiders safety Tre'von Moehrig, who was lined up close to the line of scrimmage, dropped into the flat. Cornerback Jack Jones dropped into coverage and let Thomas go.

          Thomas was wide open when he caught the ball at the Las Vegas 30-yard line and jogged into the end zone.

          It was a significant play for two reasons: It gave the Jaguars a 14-13 lead with 54 seconds remaining in the third quarter, and it put Thomas past 1,000 yards.

          He's the second rookie pass-catcher to do that this season -- Raiders tight end Brock Bowers did it earlier in the game -- and he is just the third drafted rookie in Jaguars history to surpass receiving 1,000 yards.