Jaguars’ Doug Pederson: ‘We just needed to get Chad Muma in the game’

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie linebacker Devin Lloyd spent a significant amount of time Sunday watching fellow rookie linebacker Chad Muma get extended action against the Kansas City Chiefs.

After the game, Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said the decision to keep Lloyd on the sideline wasn’t due to anything other than Muma’s capabilities.

“There was no injury,” Pederson said. “We just needed to get Chad in the game.”

Lloyd, a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, began the season as a Defensive Rookie of the Year favorite when he recorded two interceptions, six passes defended in the first three weeks. Since then, Lloyd has been a liability in coverage with opposing offenses targeting the middle of the field.

While Lloyd opened the game against the Chiefs with a fumble recovery, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City offense had little difficulty racking up three passing touchdowns by halftime.

Muma, a third-round rookie, played the entire fourth quarter and had a season-high 25 defensive snaps. That matched his total from the last five weeks combined. Muma finished Week 10 with five tackles.

Fifth-year linebacker Foye Oluokun, who was signed in the offseason to a three-year, $45 million deal, played every defensive snap Sunday and was credited with seven tackles.