Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark will be the team’s number one wideout this season. In 2020, he led the Jaguars in receiving yards(706) and was tied with two others for the most touchdown receptions(5) on the team.
Chark, who was a 1,000-yard receiver in 2019, feels he’s getting better as he enters the 2021 season.
“I feel like I’m a talented player still getting better every year,” Chark said on Thursday. “I just go out there, when I’m on the field, try to be the best that I can. That’s kind of the mindset I’ve had for a few years now, just keep proving to myself that I can get better at these routes.”
The fourth-year receiver feels his job will be easier this year with WR Laviska Shenault Jr. and new additions in rookie QB Trevor Lawerence and wideout Marvin Jones Jr.
“I have some great teammates, great offense,” Chark said. “Trevor [Lawrence] can really throw it, so he’s going to make my job even easier than before. I have Marvin [Jones Jr.] on one side, Laviska [Shenault Jr.] in the slot, make my job easier, make me want to compete, make me want to go harder than they are.”
This summer, Chark missed the whole preseason because of a hand injury, but he expects to be ready by the season-opener. According to Chark, he’s playing faster due to coaching from head coach Urban Meyer and wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal.
‘One of the things that they saw that they wanted me to get better at was releases and driving, playing fast really,” Chark said. “Those things help me play faster, and when I play faster, I feel unstoppable. When I’m not playing as fast, I feel like I’m not to my top ability. I’m not making the plays that I could be making, and I don’t like that myself. The main thing is playing with speed, vertical speed, getting down the field, which I’m pretty good at. I just have to continue to be consistent.”
Chark, 24, can be a free agent at season’s end, so this is a big year for him. However, his effectiveness could be based on the play of Lawrence. If Lawrence comes out blazing, Chark could put up some decent numbers. If not, his numbers could be affected, which could impact his ability to get a big contract with Jacksonville or elsewhere.
