Making a mark: Jaguars look to secure back-to-back AFC South title vs. Tennessee Titans

Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman Cam Robinson eloquently posed his feelings about the Tennessee Titans in a viral video clip from last year’s Week 14 game.

“Imma keep it short and simple today ... I don’t like these,” he said before the video cuts to a black screen.

Week 18 staff predictions: Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans in the Week 18 regular season finale

And that sums up the feelings from Jacksonville’s locker room as they head into the regular season finale against the Titans at 1 p.m. from Nissan Stadium.

The rivalry between the two teams runs deep. As one of the longest-tenured Jaguars on the roster, Robinson has an understanding of the type of game awaiting Jacksonville if they want to be crowned champions of the AFC South.

“I’ve been here since 2017,” Robinson said from the locker room this week. “I have a pretty good sense of what this game is. I’ve got a pretty good sense of what type of game this is gonna be.”

The type of game Robinson is referring to is a physical one. It’s a game that requires high-level play in the trenches on both sides of the ball.

Especially as running back Derrick Henry may be playing his final game as a Tennessee Titan.

The 2020 Associated Press and Pro Football Writers Association Offensive Player of the Year winner has rushed for 9,349 yards and 89 touchdowns in his career.

He’s a four-time Pro Bowl selection and voted first team All-Pro in 2020. Though, statistically a down year for Henry, he’s still rushed for 1,104 yards this season and scored 11 touchdowns.

And at 6-foot-3, 247 pounds, he’ll still mow over defenders if they aren’t focused on bringing him to the ground.

“We have to neutralize, or limit as much as we can, (the run) going against him,” outside linebacker Josh Allen said this week. “Stopping the run is priority number one. Next priority is stopping the run again. Third priority is stopping the run.”

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Tennessee will enter the game with veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill as its starter after Will Levis suffered a right foot injury against the Houston Texans last week.

The Titans — who aren't playing for playoffs — will show up with the intention of making the Jaguars miss the playoffs.

There’s a lot riding on the game for Jacksonville. A win means an automatic postseason bid and the AFC South crown for the second consecutive year.

A loss and the Jaguars would need assistance from other teams to make the postseason as a wildcard team.

Win first, stats later: Jaguars players who have key stats within reach worry first about beating the Titans

“You look at the history of the AFC South and it’s been dominated by Tennessee of late,” head coach Doug Pederson said Wednesday. "Houston has had their run, Indy back in the Peyton [Manning] days when they had their run of AFC South and I think the Jags have only had two.

“We’re trying to make our mark obviously, it’s a great division that has great teams in there.”

Pederson’s message to the team is simple this week. In his mind, there isn’t multiple scenarios for the Jaguars to make the playoffs. There’s only one, and that’s winning on Sunday in Nashville.

“Our focus is trying to beat Tennessee and regardless of records and who’s playing and who’s not playing,” He said. “This is always a really good football game and it’s a four-quarter game.”

The Jaguars could be without Trevor Lawrence for the second consecutive game as he's still recovering from a right shoulder sprain suffered against the Buccaneers on Dec. 24.

Unlike last week where Lawrence did not practice at all, this week he completed the quarterback drills portion of practice at the Miller Electric Center every day.

Though a limited performer, he ramped up his throwing from not completing any throws in the open to media window Wednesday, to throwing warm-up throws 30 yards down the field with ease Friday.

Pederson said a decision on if he plays could be made as late as 90 minutes before kickoff Sunday when inactives are released.

But same as last week, if Lawrence cannot play, backup quarterback CJ Beathard will be the starter for Jacksonville.

Josh Allen is the franchise leader in sacks and franchise leader inside Jags locker room

Fresh off setting the franchise record for sacks, Allen took to the postgame podium and made a declaration.

He said he envisions second-year player Travon Walker one day breaking the very record that he’d just secured for himself.

It was a moment of Allen showing the leadership he constantly displays for Jacksonville. Supporting teammates on both sides of the ball while also taking every opportunity to praise them.

Allen (16.5) and Walker (9) lead the league in combined sacks currently with Walker having the opportunity to secure double-digit sacks for the first time in his career.

“I think just like Calais [Campbell] was with him; showing him the way and then just like you would teach your younger brother,” defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell said when asked about Allen's comments. “That’s the way he is and it’s great to have one of your leaders that’s a humble guy and that’s a team guy.”

Allen showed the same leadership in the locker room Thursday, running down a list of Jacksonville players who he deemed as Pro Bowl snubs after he and long snapper Ross Matiscik were the only two Jaguars players to be selected to the games.

He included Evan Engram, Travis Etienne, Darious Williams, Foye Oluokun, Logan Cooke and others as he went on about how deserving his teammates were.

While Allen said he was honored to be selected for the Pro Bowl, he told reporters he hopes the Jaguars will be playing in the Super Bowl so he’ll watch from afar — further showing the team-oriented mindset of the fifth-year veteran.

“That just shows you the type of person that Josh is. He’s never a selfish person,” Walker said of Allen. “He’s just one of those guys that’s always trying to help the ones around him succeed.”

Christian Kirk returns to practice field, questionable to play vs. Titans

Jacksonville’s offense could get a boost this weekend as Christian Kirk’s 21-day window to return from the injured reserve list was opened this week.

Kirk suffered a core muscle injury against the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 4 and was placed on IR for the last month.

But he returned to the practice field as a limited participant this week, adjusting to being back on the field.

“It's been a long process in a short period of time,” the sixth-year receiver said Wednesday. “I'm feeling better day by day and just kind of taking it from that standpoint right now.”

Kirk has been in the building rehabbing for the last few weeks and was at the games against the Buccaneers and Panthers.

He’s a leader on the offense, and especially, in the wide receiver room, where several first-year players in Jacksonville's system had to step up due to injuries.

During player warmups of the Buccaneers game he spent time talking with Parker Washington, the sixth-round rookie wideout stepped into Kirk’s role while he was injured.

“I care so much about this team and this locker room and how we progressed as a team,” Kirk said. “There's been some tough times, but all I could do from afar is just kind of be there for everyone and just try to be a sound voice.”

Injury Report: Lawrence, Kirk, Jones all questionable for regular season finale

As of Saturday morning, Lawrence, Kirk and Zay Jones are all questionable to play.

Lawrence did a lot of throwing at Friday’s practice. He went through the entirety of the individual drills part of practice for the first time this week as he threw passes at stationary targets along with the other Jacksonville quarterbacks.

A decision on if he’ll play or not will come Sunday after completing his pregame warmup. If he feels fine, he’ll play.

If not, it’ll be Beathard at quarterback for the second consecutive week.

Kirk was unsure if he’d be able to play earlier in the week. When asked on Friday, Pederson told reporters it’s a fine line because of how quickly he came back from injury.

He’ll likely be a game time decision as well, although, if he’s activated from IR to the main roster on Saturday, he’ll probably be set to play.

Jones is recovering from compounding injuries. He was already limited by what the team reported as a bone bruise on his knee, and then he picked up a hamstring injury against the Ravens.

But Pederson felt positive about him playing on Friday, saying: “I would expect him to be out there on game day.”

If Jacksonville gets all three back for this game, it’d be the first time they’ll have a fully healthy starting lineup since facing the Houston Texans in Week 12.

For Tennessee, they’ll be without several players.

WR Colton Dowell (knee), DB Anthony Kendall (knee), DL TK McLendon (shoulder) and CB Caleb Farley (back) are all ruled out.

QB Will Levis is listed as questionable, but head coach Mike Vrabel told reports on Friday Tannehill would be starting.

G Daniel Brunskill (ankle), OT Jaelyn Duncan (neck), OLB Caleb Murphy (back) and TE Kevin Rader (hip) are all 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: Jacksonville Jaguars set to face Titans with Lawrence questionable