Los Angeles Chargers @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Final Score: Jaguars 35, Chargers 6
Writer: Kevan Downs (kdsportsnet on Instagram)
The difference in run games for these two teams was staggering. The Chargers and Kimani Vidal struggled to run the ball efficiently, putting Justin Herbert in tougher passing situations. This was compounded further by Vidal being forced to leave the game for a couple series with an injury, forcing the team to rely on two practice squad runners in Amar Johnson and Trayveon Williams. Meanwhile, the Jaguars were able to gash the Chargers’ defense behind the duo of Travis Etienne Jr. and Bhayshul Tuten, with Tuten carrying the ball more times up until he was forced to leave the game in the second half due to an injury. They made life significantly easier for Trevor Lawrence, whose day started slow, before coming out strong in the second half to pull away with the blowout victory.
Two Up
- Jakobi Meyers — Meyers posted the kind of day people expected to see consistently when he was with the Raiders to start the season. Meyers is great at getting open, and Trevor Lawrence connected with him on five of six targets for 64 yards. If the targets keep coming his way on his new team and hauls them in at an efficient rate, he’ll be looked at as a weekly start again.
- Bhayshul Tuten — While Travis Etienne Jr. ended the day with more total yards, until Tuten was forced to leave the game early, he had more rushing attempts than Etienne, and the Jaguars were more than willing to ride the hot hand with Tuten. While Tuten had been rotated in during prior weeks, this was the first time it looked like he was going to out-touch Etienne by the end of the game.
Two Down
- Parker Washington — After three straight weeks of at least seven targets, it seemed Meyers took some of those from Washington in this one. Both receivers have been targeted in the quick passing game, with Lawrence finding them on quick-developing routes. It remains to be seen if either will emerge as the favorite target.
- Quentin Johnston — After back-to-back encouraging weeks, Johnston found himself once again out-targeted by Keenan Allen, Ladd McConkey, and Oronde Gadsden II, and finished his day hauling in none of his three targets.
Los Angeles Chargers
Quarterback
Justin Herbert: 10/18, 81 Yards, INT | 3 Carries, 21 Yards
The offense struggled in all facets of the game in this one. As poor as the run game was, Justin Herbert‘s mistakes were arguably the larger reason why the offense was not able to get anything going. From holding the ball too long to overthrowing his receivers, and just not completing the passes we normally see from him to sustain drives, this was certainly a forgettable one for Herbert and the Chargers, who will look to regroup entering their bye week.
Herbert made mistakes that forced the offense into much tougher situations. On the first drive of the game, he committed an intentional grounding penalty. On the first play of the third drive, he held onto the ball far too long and took a sack on first down; on both drives, they would go three-and-out.
Trey Lance: 3/8, 37 Yards | 3 Carries, 1 Yard
Trey Lance entered the game in the fourth quarter once the game was out of reach and the Chargers took Herbert out. Lance has a habit of holding on to the ball too long and is forced to scramble. He did connect with Oronde Gadsden II for a big completion.
Running Back
Kimani Vidal: 5 Carries, 13 Yards | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, -1 Yard
Kimani Vidal‘s role has a chance to decrease following his worst performance of the season. The offensive line struggled to create holes for the run game, and Herbert’s poor play early on left the offense facing more passing situations, leaving less opportunity for Vidal. Vidal also left with an injury for a couple of series, but he should be able to rest up during the Chargers’ Week 12 bye. There is a chance Omarion Hampton returns after the bye week and takes back the starting spot, although the Chargers may work him back into a full workload slowly after missing six weeks.
Amar Johnson: 2 Carries, 8 Yards | 1 Target, 0 Receptions
Entered the game following the injury to Vidal.
Trayveon Williams: 3 Carries, -1 Yard | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 0 Yards
Trayveon Williams got the first carry following the injury to Vidal. With the bye week upcoming and Hampton potentially returning the game action following the bye, we shouldn’t expect to see either Johnson or Williams when the Chargers play the Raiders in Week 12.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Keenan Allen: 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 53 Yards
This was Keenan Allen‘s week to lead the receiver group in targets, although he ended his day with only six after Herbert threw the ball just 18 times. On any given week, Allen, Gadsden, or Ladd McConkey could lead this team in targets, although Allen still looks like Herbert’s safety net. Herbert continues to find Allen on quick-developing routes that give him a reliable floor week to week. They were also able to connect for a deep pass after the play was breaking down, and Allen knew where to be to give Herbert a chance to find him.
Oronde Gadsden II: 5 Targets, 2 Receptions, 41 Yards
The offense shows trust in Oronde Gadsden II. While not an efficient day for him, only bringing in two of his five targets, he was targeted on quick routes on third-down plays, the kind of routes we would more commonly see drawn up for Allen.
Ladd McConkey: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 13 Yards
With Herbert only throwing the ball 18 times, there weren’t many targets to go around, and McConkey got the short end among him, Allen, and Gadsden in this one. With the bye week coming up and playing against a softer defense off the bye in the Raiders, Ladd should be able to bounce back nicely. He remains a weekly start.
Quentin Johnston: 3 Targets, 0 Receptions
A disappointing day for Quentin Johnston following two performances reminiscent of his strong start to the season. Johnston only saw three targets and caught none of them. In garbage time with Lance, Johnston was targeted on a deep ball that would have been a touchdown if he could have hauled it in. He remains a boom-or-bust start week to week.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Quarterback
Trevor Lawrence: 14/22, 153 Yards, 1 TD, 1 INT | 5 Carries, 9 Yards, 1 TD
It was looking like it was going to be a rough day for Trevor Lawrence early on. He continued to show the same hesitancy that he’s displayed all season. On their first drive of the game, he would turn it over on a fourth-and-3 after not throwing to his first read, which was open on the play. He would settle in, especially after halftime, with the help of his run game. With Travis Etienne Jr. and Bhayshul Tuten emerging as quite the duo, along with receiving reinforcements via the acquisition of Jakobi Meyers, and Brian Thomas Jr.‘s impending return, it would be nice to see Lawrence play with the same confidence he showed coming out of halftime more consistently. Too often, he looks scared to throw into tighter windows and holds on to the ball too long.
got 'em
📺 | @nfloncbs pic.twitter.com/606VOXalHx
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) November 16, 2025
Running Back
Travis Etienne Jr.: 19 Carries, 73 Yards, 2 TDs | 2 Targets, 0 Receptions
When Travis Etienne Jr. struggled to be efficient in the game, the Jaguars had no issue riding Tuten’s hot hand more than they had in prior weeks. Etienne didn’t look as explosive as Tuten, but continues to churn out positive plays even if it is just for 2 or 3 yards. Despite being much more even in rushing attempts, Etienne got more work in the passing game than Tuten. The Jaguars will likely continue to rely on both backs to keep them fresh throughout the game. The big difference-maker week to week will be which one can punch in a touchdown. Both scored a touchdown in this game, and there is no clear-cut goal-line back that the team prefers. Etienne was stopped on a goal line carry, which was followed up by a touchdown pass to Tim Patrick.
Bhayshul Tuten: 15 Carries, 74 Yards, 1 TD
Bhayshul Tuten has looked just as, if not more, explosive than Etienne in multiple games this season. However, this was the first game they seemed willing to ride Tuten more than Etienne while he had the hot hand. Before he left the game, he had more rushing attempts than Etienne. Depending on the severity of his injury, the backfield split between the two could be closer to a 1A-1B situation compared to what we’ve seen to this point in the season.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Jakobi Meyers: 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 64 Yards
Jakobi Meyers has a chance to emerge as the top-targeted receiver on the Jags through the rest of the season. After another week of practice with his new offense, Lawrence seemed to favor Meyers for easy completions, as well as bigger plays when they needed a first down. He was targeted on the types of quick, easy routes that he excelled at with the Raiders. Meyers ended this game with five of his receptions resulting in a first down. He could out-target Parker Washington moving forward.
Tim Patrick: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 20 Yards, 1 TD
Tim Patrick isn’t often targeted on the quick-developing routes that Meyers and Washington are, but he had several plays called up for him in this game that give him a boom/bust kind of expected outcome while Thomas is out with an injury. While not a target hog in the same way Washington had been in recent weeks, Patrick had several plays drawn up for him in this game. One had the defense selling out to stop the run on the goal line while he was able to easily get open across the middle of the field for a touchdown. He had another end-zone target earlier in the game as well.
Johnny Mundt: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 25 Yards
A small uptick in usage for Johnny Mundt, filling in for injured tight ends Brenton Strange and Hunter Long. He shouldn’t be expected to see startable usage moving forward, especially if the Jags continue to lean on the run game like they did in this one.
Parker Washington: 2 Targets, 20 Yards
With running similar routes, Parker Washington and Meyers may eat into each other’s usage moving forward. It remains to be seen how the targets shake out, especially when Thomas returns to action, leaving both risky starts week-to-week.