'The city is pumped': Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars ready to host Cincinnati Bengals on MNF

When the Jacksonville Jaguars (8-3) host the Cincinnati Bengals (5-6) on Monday Night Football, it’ll be the second time Trevor Lawrence has been featured on the ESPN prime time football program this year.

He was featured on ESPN’s ManningCast during the Week 9 matchup of the Los Angeles Chargers and New York Jets, a moment that featured bad memes and conversations about Waffle House.

But on Monday, Lawrence moves to the main event as the third-year quarterback leads the Jaguars into their first MNF game in more than a decade.

“First one here in since 2011, which is crazy,” Lawrence said when asked about his excitement level heading into the game. “It’s going to be exciting. I’m sure the city is pumped and hopefully we get a nice, big crowd to get rowdy over here, so it’ll be fun.”

Fan Guide: Jaguars play first MNF game in 12 years when they host the Cincinnati Bengals

The game will serve as the “Taylor Brothers Bowl” as Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor faces off against his older brother, Zac, who is the head coach of the Bengals.

This will be the fifth matchup of the brothers with Press holding an advantage of 2-1-1 in the first four competitions. And there’s a family trophy with an updated record of each meeting.

But when he was asked about the trophy and what it means to him, Press responded quickly.

“Nothing,” he said. “It used to be something that was cool, we were both quality controls or assistant position coaches, whatever it was. It was kind of a fun way for our family to be involved, for us to talk a little trash. Now, it’s just kind of something that only gets brought up this time of year."

While the Taylor Bro Bowl trophy is of little importance, the Jaguars will be looking to pick up a needed win to keep their fight for the top seed in the AFC alive.

"Sometimes we make it bigger than it really is, and listen, it’s a big ‘to do’ to play on Monday night," Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said Saturday. "It’s exciting for everybody, but at the same time, it just boils down to just doing your job, playing the football game and doing everything you can to try to win.”

The Bengals will be without quarterback Joe Burrow for their second consecutive game after a wrist injury sidelined him for the season.

Instead, Jake Browning will have the reins for Cincinnati’s offense as they try to play spoiler to Jacksonville’s climb towards the top seed in the AFC.

Cleats for a cause: Jaguars set to showcase custom cleats during MNF

Aside from the importance of the game on the field, Monday will have a personal importance for players and coaches alike. As a part of the NFL’s "My Cause, My Cleats" celebration, Jacksonville players and staff were able to create custom cleats or shoes to wear during Week 12.

A few players opened up about their footwear this week and what it represents to them.

“I picked a substance abuse hotline, that was kind of the best option for what I was trying to do,” safety Andre Cisco said. “Mainly my purpose was to bring awareness to families that have alcoholics, alcoholism as a disease in general, just people that are suffering with it and families that are going through that.

“My family went through it for years. My dad recently passed and so, it's bringing awareness to it. This cause or organization in particular has a hotline for suicide and mental health as well, so it brings it all together.”

Linebacker Foye Oluokun is representing youth education with the Lift for Life Academy in St. Louis, a school that he volunteered at when he was in high school.

It gives special value to him to be able to proudly represent his home while acting as a light to youth to be inspired to do whatever they want to do.

“It's a testament to, if they put the effort in the right places, where they can go,” he said. Oluokon also said he goes back and speaks at the school when he gets the chance to.

“I think a lot of people need that example," he continued. "Me going and showing my face, I'm telling them that it's worth it. I just to try to provide a little inspiration that they can make it wherever they want to go.”

The full list of the footwear can be found on the Jaguars’ website.

Secret to the success: Josh Allen gives insight into hot start

Jacksonville pass rusher Josh Allen landed AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance against Houston. His 2.5 sacks last week thrusted him into second place in franchise history for sacks with 39.5 in his career.

Through 11 games, Allen already has a career-best for sacks in a single season with 12. He has 38 total tackles, 22 quarterback hits, 11 tackles for a loss and two forced fumbles.

He’s having a big-time season for the Jaguars and on Thursday, he gave insight to part of the reasoning behind his success.

As he was doing locker room availability, he fielded a question from teammate Calvin Ridley.

Ridley asked about his success this year, but also questioned why Allen smelled like onions during recovery.

After laughing and disputing the onion accusations, Allen said it was a remedy that he began using this year to manage ankle swelling.

“It’s an old remedy,” he said with a smile. “I get swollen up in my ankles, so my doctor just wrapped my foot with onions to get the swelling to go down. It works.”

The Jaguars will be more than happy to deal with the smell if it means Allen continues his hot streak.

Chasing Chase: Slowing down Bengals WR will be a key

Though the Bengals are without Burrow, they have the other half of the LSU-pairing that led them to the Super Bowl in 2021. Star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has the talent to single handedly influence a game.

He’s recorded 75 catches on 112 targets for 914 yards and six touchdowns in 11 games this season for the Bengals. He had a season-high three touchdown catches versus the Cardinals and has topped 100 receiving yards in four games in 2023.

“He’s a dude in the league,” defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell said on Friday. “He’s a guy that you have to know where he’s at all times, you have to make sure you have a bunch of people around him because he’s going to make incredible catches, he’s good with the ball in his hand after the catch."

In the time since Burrow was injured, his numbers have tanked a bit. He’s recorded 10 catches for 70 yards in the last two games — both losses for Cincinnati.

But with the Monday night spotlight and fellow receiver Tee Higgins rejoining the team after an injury stint, containing Chase will be an important task for Jacksonville’s defense.

Tyson Campbell, Travis Etienne likely to play; Brenton Strange still TBD

The Jaguars enter the game with relatively good health. Running back Travis Etienne, cornerback Tyson Campbell, tight ends Luke Ferrell and Brenton Strange are all listed as questionable heading into the matchup.

Etienne, who suffered an injury to his ribs in the win against the Houston Texans last week, is likely to play per Pederson’s Saturday press conference.

Also, cornerback Tyson Campbell is likely to make his return after missing four of the last five games with a lingering hamstring injury.

“I'm feeling good man,” he said in the locker room on Saturday. “Glad to be back to help my team win.”

Campbell originally suffered the injury in Week 6 against the Colts, missing the following two games as the Jaguars headed into the bye week. Then he returned against the 49ers, but reaggravated the hamstring and was forced to miss the following two matchups.

According to him, he didn’t feel like he came back too soon after the first injury.

“No, not really,” he said. “I felt good coming into that game and God put me back, and sat me down for a few more weeks. I’m feeling good. That's behind me. I’m feeling stronger. I feel healthy.”

The injury to watch will be rookie tight end Brenton Strange, who was seen in a boot on Friday in the locker room after practice. According to Doug Pederson, Strange was hurt in a 1-on-1 drill but felt better by Saturday morning.

He was not a participant in Saturday’s practice, but Pederson didn’t rule out him playing on Monday.

“Got a lot of time between now and Monday night, so we’ll see where he’s at,” he said.

For the Bengals, cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt was ruled out. Offensive tackle D’Ante Smith and former Jacksonville defensive lineman Jay Tufele were both listed as questionable.

Juston Lewis is a sports reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on the website formerly known as Twitter at @JustonLewis_.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: ESPN Monday Night Football Preview: Jaguars set to host Bengals