CINCINNATI - The second NFL season for Brian Thomas Jr. has been less than stellar. The Jacksonville Jaguars receiver has been targeted 19 times in the first two games but managed only five catches for 60 yards. This includes four receptions for 49 yards in the Jaguars' 31-27 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

Thomas missed a potential touchdown pass in the end zone, had another pass bounce off his hand leading to an interception, and dropped a crucial fourth-down pass that could have set the Jaguars up with a first-and-goal inside the Bengals' 5-yard line.

"It's super frustrating," Thomas admitted, reflecting on not meeting the standards he set as a rookie. "Just have to put it behind you and go on to the next week."

Chemistry Issues with Trevor Lawrence

Thomas and quarterback Trevor Lawrence appear to be out of sync, miscommunicating on some routes and struggling to adapt to coach Liam Coen's new offensive strategy. Coen emphasized that the pass game should run through Thomas, but the duo's lack of coordination is affecting the team's overall performance.

"Me and BT have a good relationship and we do communicate," Lawrence said. "That's just something where I've got to be better for him and vice versa. We've got to help each other out."

Statistical Struggles

Through the first two games, Thomas' reception percentage of 26.3% ranks 79th in the NFL among receivers, the worst on the team. Travis Hunter is the closest at 64.3%. Coen mentioned that Thomas has been dealing with a sore wrist, which might have impacted his performance against the Bengals.

"I don't think it's anything that's huge," Coen stated. "It's a thing that he's kind of been working through. Everybody goes through some things and ultimately, it's our job to get to the bottom of it and try to get him to feel good and play at the highest level he can."

Looking Ahead

Despite the slow start, Thomas remains confident. He emphasized that there are no chemistry issues with Lawrence and that he just needs to make the plays when the ball is thrown his way.

"I've just got to make the plays," Thomas said. "When the ball is thrown to you, just make the plays."

Coen plans to talk with Thomas to help him figure out how to snap out of the slow start to the season. Thomas had a similar slow start last season but finished strong, ranking third in the NFL with 1,281 yards on 82 catches and 10 touchdowns.

Support from Teammates

Teammate Dyami Brown isn't worried about Thomas. "Just let BT be BT," Brown said. "At the end of the day, I know what he's capable of, he knows what he's capable of, and we know what he's capable of. We've just got to keep working, keep moving forward, and the big game will come for him."

The Jaguars' pass offense will still run through Thomas, as Lawrence reiterated, "He's a great player so it's always going to be part of our plan to get him the ball."