Doug Pederson's focus on job, not future after Jaguars lose 52-6 - ESPN

DETROIT — Doug Pederson doesn't know if Sunday's embarrassing 52-6 loss to the Detroit Lions will be his last as the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, so he's going to continue to operate as normal as the team heads into its bye week.

«I can't control that,» Pederson said. «I've been around this league a long time, and if it's going to happen, it's going to happen, obviously, but at the same time I still have a job to do and that's to get ready for a good division opponent [the Houston Texans] in two weeks.»

The Jaguars are now 2-9 and have lost 14 of their past 17 games under Pederson after an 8-3 start to the 2023 season. This comes after owner Shad Khan told the team the night before training camp began that this was the best Jaguars team ever assembled and he expected it to reach the playoffs. If Khan chooses to fire Pederson (and potentially general manager Trent Baalke as well) before the season ends, this would be the logical week to do it.

The Jaguars are scheduled to be in the facility through the middle of the week before the players are given the rest of the week off.

Multiple players expressed support after the game for Pederson, who led the team to an AFC South title in 2022 after a 3-7 start to the season.

«I love playing for Doug,» tight end Evan Engram said. «Doug and this team have been through so much over the last three years. And like I said, I told him, 'We're going to ride together. We're going to die together.'

»That's out of my control, but I'm going to keep fighting for Doug as much as I can. I know the team will and we're going to keep pushing."

Safety Andre Cisco said he was hoping Khan doesn't fire Pederson.

«I love Doug,» he said. «Doug's been great to me, and so I think he's a leader