JACKSONVILLE - The Jacksonville Jaguars dismantled the Indianapolis Colts 42-7 at EverBank Stadium Sunday, opening a three-game lead in the AFC South while losing veteran nose tackle DaVon Hamilton to a knee injury that threatens to reshape their defensive identity heading into the playoff stretch.
Jacksonville’s offense was never seriously challenged, with the Jaguars turning a competitive game into a rout during a 21-0 second quarter that effectively ended any suspense. Second-year running back Bhayshul Tuten broke a tackle on a 39-yard run for a 21-0 lead with 1:50 remaining in the first half, and Chris Rodriguez Jr. added a 28-yard touchdown run through multiple defenders early in the third quarter to push the margin to 35-0.
“The guys came in with a little blood in the water and we wanted to be able to jump on these guys at home,” said Head Coach Liam Coen.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence continued what team correspondent John Shipley described as the best stretch of his career, throwing three touchdown passes against only four incompletions. Lawrence was an MVP finalist last season and received MVP votes in 2022, but Shipley wrote that Lawrence “keeps taking his game to new levels” against AFC South competition.
The victory came at a cost. Hamilton, the anchor of a run defense that has been dominant for the past season and a half, buckled his knee while taking on blocks in the second quarter and was carted off the field, ruled out for the remainder of the game. The injury occurred on the same play that rookie defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr. recovered a Colts fumble, setting up a 50-yard touchdown drive for a 14-0 lead.
“There’s not many better humans, better competitors, team guys,” Coen said of Hamilton. “Just the human, the competitor … I can’t say enough about him.”
Hamilton was not the only Jaguar to leave with an injury. Safety Eric Murray exited with an elbow injury on the game’s opening kickoff, forcing second-year safety Rayuan Lane III into an expanded role. Lane responded with a 92-yard interception return for a touchdown with 10 seconds remaining in the first half. Second-year linebacker Branson Combs recorded his first career interception, and guard Ezra Cleveland left with an ankle injury. Defensive end Travon Walker also came out of the game.
With the lead secure, Coen pulled Lawrence, Tuten, wide receiver Parker Washington, tight end Brenton Strange, Walker and linebacker Foyesade Oluokun before the fourth quarter ended - a calculated decision ahead of a Thursday Night Football road game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore.