Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-14 · by Mark Long The Associated Press
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Parker Washington fully extended his body at the goal line and hauled in Trevor Lawrence’s 30-yard pass for Jacksonville’s first touchdown of the season.
asserted
Washington → extend → season
Washington followed with an ode to a professional wrestler, “The Undertaker,” and then rubbed his index finger and thumb together in a money celebration.
asserted
Washington → follow → celebration
His message was seemingly simple: wake up and pay up!
asserted
message → wake → ?
“I was just bringing energy to the team, man,” Washington said.
asserted
Washington → bring → team
“It was just cool to just start strong, have some fun and have a great win.”
asserted
It → start → win
Washington proved his worth in the Jaguars’ 34-10 rout of Cleveland in the season opener for both teams Sunday.
asserted
Washington → prove → teams
He finished with five receptions for 83 yards, including the two best catches of the day for the home team.
asserted
He → finish → team
They were exactly what Washington needed to help him gain leverage in contract negotiations with the Jaguars.
asserted
him → need → Jaguars
The fourth-year pro is a pending free agent who could command more than $25 million a year in March — a significant payday for a sixth-round draft pick from Penn State in 2023 who caught 58 passes for 847 yards and five TDs last season.
uncertain
who → pende → yards
The Jaguars had hoped to get an extension done before training camp, but it didn’t happen.
asserted
it → hop → camp
They again tried to agree to terms before the opener, but nothing materialized.
asserted
nothing → try → opener
Washington stayed quiet through it all — and then let his play speak volumes.
asserted
play → stay → volumes
“You would not even know that’s going on just the way he carries himself,” Lawrence said.
asserted
Lawrence → know → himself
You wouldn’t even know that’s going on in the background.
asserted
that → know → background
Really just impressed with how he’s handled that but not surprised.
asserted
he → handle → that
He’s a worker, and he’s a stud.”
asserted
he → ’ → ?
What’s working
The Jaguars got off to another fast start, reigniting a trend that began late last season.
asserted
that → work → trend
They led 24-0 at halftime against Cleveland, marking the sixth time in their past seven regular-season games that they scored 17 or more points in the first two quarters.
asserted
they → lead → quarters
“Yeah, that’s always the goal,” Lawrence said.
asserted
Lawrence → ’ → ?
“You want to start the game fast and play well in that first possession so you can settle in as soon as possible and not give the ball back to the other team.”
asserted
you → want → team
What needs help
Jacksonville allowed 228 yards on six kickoffs, including a 74-yarder that set up a field goal in the third quarter.
asserted
that → need → quarter
Raheim ”Rocket” Sanders totaled 130 yards on three returns.
asserted
Sanders → total → returns
Dylan Sampson returned two for 64 yards.
asserted
Sampson → return → yards
And Malachi Corley added a 34-yarder.
asserted
Corley → add → yarder
“Got to clean up some things on kickoff,” coach Liam Coen said.
asserted
Coen → got → kickoff
Linebacker Ventrell Miller had nine tackles, including his first career sack, and forced a fumble.
asserted
Miller → have → fumble
He knocked the ball out of rookie receiver KC Concepcion’s hands at the end of a 5-yard gain in the second quarter, setting up Trevor Lawrence’s third touchdown pass.
asserted
He → knock → pass
Miller, a fourth-round draft pick out of Florida in 2023, beat out second-year pro Branson Combs for the starting job in the preseason.
asserted
Miller → beat → preseason
He’s now tasked with replacing Pro Bowl linebacker Devin Lloyd, who had a career-high five interceptions last season.
asserted
who → task → interceptions
Defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr., an undrafted rookie from South Carolina, was inactive after leading the team with 3 1/2 sacks in the preseason.
asserted
Jr. → lead → preseason
Second-year pros Danny Striggow and BJ Green played ahead of Thomas, and Green was ruled out at halftime with an elbow injury.
asserted
Green → play → injury
Green’s injury could open the door for Thomas to make his NFL debut in Week 2.
uncertain
Thomas → open → Week
Right tackle Cole Van Lanen made a relatively quick return from knee surgery.
asserted
Lanen → make → surgery
Van Lanen started the opener eight months after tearing a ligament in his right knee in the team’s 2025 regular-season finale.
asserted
Lanen → start → finale
He played the first half against Cleveland — he didn’t give up a sack — before giving way to backup Walker Little.
asserted
he → play → Little
Key number
2018 — most recent time the Jaguars started a season 2-0.
asserted
Jaguars → start → season
Winning at Denver (again) would certainly raise Jacksonville’s profile in the AFC.
asserted
Winning → win → AFC
The Jags stunned the Broncos 34-20 last December, although Denver still earned the conference’s No. 1 seed in the playoffs.
asserted
Denver → stun → playoffs
