Jaguars reportedly could make huge change after Lions game

The Jacksonville Jaguars are 2-8 and will be without injured quarterback Trevor Lawrence when they play this Sunday at the 8-1 Detroit Lions, which may be the best team in the league. 

While few expect Jacksonville to give Detroit much of a game, NFL insider Josina Anderson teased on Friday that Jaguars owner Shad Khan could show head coach Doug Pederson the door during the club’s Week 12 bye, depending on what happens at Ford Field. 

“Heard from a couple people,” Anderson said about the Jaguars. “The owner prefers to wait to make a decision after the season, but if they get blown out this weekend…change is possibly coming.” 

Pederson has been the subject of job-security rumors throughout the season after his club suffered a brutal collapse during the second half of the 2023 campaign. The Jaguars have gone a woeful 3-13 in their last 16 games. 

As of Friday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Jaguars as 13.5-point underdogs against the Lions. Such a line suggests experts believe, to steal Anderson’s phrase, Jacksonville will get “blown out” on Sunday. 

Anderson asked the “couple people” if it’s fair for Khan “to make any internal changes” after Sunday’s game, considering Pederson is turning to backup Mac Jones. 

“Define fair in the NFL,” Anderson heard back. “What’s fair? This is a business. I mean I see your point, but people are definitely talking about these things down here.” 

One can’t help but wonder if such rumblings have anything to do with former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. The Jaguars were previously called a “sneaky” team to hire Belichick. Still, certain whispers hint that Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones wants to replace Mike McCarthy with Belichick eventually.

Of course, clubs must follow the standard hiring process that involves compliance with the Rooney Rule, but that doesn’t mean an owner like Khan couldn’t start sending feelers to Belichick’s camp at any point. It will be interesting to see how Pederson’s players react, knowing his job could be on the line this Sunday.