Jags’ Meyer to USC? ‘No chance’
Urban Meyer rarely, if ever, experienced anything like this at Ohio State or Florida.
Ten penalties, six dropped passes, three turnovers, down 20 at halftime. Confusion on the sideline and in the huddle.
The Jaguars essentially looked unprepared in Meyer’s NFL debut, a 37-21 loss Sunday at Houston. It was such a shoddy performance against another team presumed to be one of the league’s worst that critics wondered whether Meyer would stick around long enough to fix the floundering franchise.
And when USC fired coach Clay Helton a day later, speculation swirled about Meyer’s immediate future in Jacksonville.
Meyer responded Wednesday by saying “there’s no chance” he takes the Trojans’ job. Believe him or not, he insists he’s in for the long haul.
“I’m here and committed to try to build an organization,” Meyer added.
It’s unlikely to be the last time Meyer’s name gets linked to a collegiate job opening. After all, the 57-year-old coach has found success at every stop, building winners at Bowling Green, Utah, Florida and Ohio State. He won two national championships with the Gators (2006, 2008) and another with the Buckeyes (2014).
“I was warned many, many, many, many times it’s a journey; it’s not a sprint,” he said. “We’re healthy, attitudes are good, we have good players and we’re building something.”
“I don’t want to ever fall into that trap of saying this is four-year plan, three-year plan. That’s not fair to players. This is a onegame plan and then we’ll worry about the next game. There’s some guys that played a lot of football in that locker room and they deserve our very best, and that’s what it is. Other than a bruised soul that we all have right now, we’re still swinging away, and like I said, you’d probably see a little different look on my face if I had bad guys. That’s not the case at all.”
Cowboys’ Lawrence breaks foot
Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence broke a foot in practice Wednesday and likely will be out at least six weeks.
Lawrence, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, was helped off the field during the first practice to prepare for Sunday’s road game against the Chargers.
The injury to Lawrence came with the Cowboys planning to be without their other starting defensive end in Randy Gregory, who is out after testing positive for COVID-19. Coach Mike McCarthy didn’t seem optimistic Wednesday when asked about Gregory’s availability against the Chargers.
The Cowboys are losing their best pass rusher in Lawrence, who is in the third year of a five-year, $105 million contract. He missed the first eight games as a rookie in 2014 after breaking a foot in training camp.
Without Lawrence and Gregory, Tarell Basham and Dorance Armstrong are the projected starters.
This and that
Giants running back Saquon Barkley is listed as questionable for Thursday night against the Washington Football Team.
Raiders defensive tackle Gerald McCoy reportedly is out for the season after tearing his left ACL on Monday night.
The Jets are expected to get wide receivers Jamison Crowder (COVID) and Keelan Cole (knee) back this week, with both possibly able to play in the home opener Sunday against the Patriots.
Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore, who just signed a five-year, $97 million extension last week, had surgery on a broken thumb and is week-to-week.
Browns receiver Odell Beckham Jr. will not play Sunday against the Texans.