D.J. CHARK

Keeping pace in the AFC West is turning into quite the arms race.

Let the dealing begin — if mostly unofficial.

Every year, players in every NFL city fail to meet expectations.

Evan McPherson kicked a 35-yard field goal as time ran out to give the Cincinnati Bengals a 24-21 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night, spoiling Urban Meyer’s Ohio return.

Byron Murphy intercepted two passes, including one he returned for a touchdown following a botched trick play, and the Arizona Cardinals rallied to beat the skidding Jacksonville Jaguars 31-19 on Sunday.

Tyrod Taylor threw for 291 yards and two touchdowns filling in for Deshaun Watson to lead the Houston Texans to a 37-21 win over Trevor Lawrence and the mistake-prone Jacksonville Jaguars.

Jameis Winston passed for touchdowns of 43 and 29 yards to Marquez Callaway, and the New Orleans Saints defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 23-21 in a preseason game.

Trevor Lawrence’s professional debut opened with a sack and a fumble, hardly ideal but not too concerning for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence had an impressive opening week of training camp.

Free agency feels a lot like recruiting to new Jaguars coach Urban Meyer. It certainly should help that the Jaguars have more salary cap space (nearly $73 million) than any other team. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Free agency feels a lot like recruiting to new Jaguars coach Urban Meyer. Clemson star Trevor Lawrence is the presumptive choice, and the Jaguars will use free agency to build around him. “That’s a room that’s going to have to be rebuilt in some ways,” said Meyer, who could sign Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith or Gerald Everett when free agency officially begins Wednesday.

___GREEN BAY AT TAMPA BAYPackers: RB Tyler Ervin, CB Kevin King, QB Jordan Love. ___NEW YORK JETS AT MIAMIJets: QB James Morgan, QB Sam Darnold, CB Quincy Wilson, LB Jordan Willis, T Mekhi Becton, DL Nathan Shepherd. Dolphins: B/WR Malcolm Perry, RB Salvon Ahmed, RB Jordan Howard, LB Kyle Van Noy, DE Jason Strowbridge. ___HOUSTON AT TENNESSEETexans: WR Keke Coutee, CB Cornell Armstrong, RB Buddy Howell, ILB Peter Kalambayi, OT Charlie Heck, TE Jordan Akins. ___ATLANTA AT MINNESOTAFalcons: CB Jordan Miller, RB Qadree Ollison, S Jaylinn Hawkins, RT John Wetzel, DE Takk McKinley.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick laughs with coaches as he comes off the field after defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars in an NFL football game, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Ryan Fitzpatrick handles the Jacksonville Jaguars as well as anyone in the NFL. Fitzpatrick completed his first 12 passes — a career high — as Miami scored touchdowns on its first three drives for the first time since 2011. Fitzpatrick also ran for 39 yards and a score, his 37-year-old legs looking as fresh as any in Miami’s backfield. “As a group we just didn't get it done,” said Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew, who completed 30 of 42 passes for 275 yards and two turnovers. The Jaguars have won two in a row against the Bengals, notching victories in 2017 and 2019.

And to some, the odds seem greater, this time, that what the athletes are calling for might actually come to pass. We get paid to go out there and play and do our job. All this stands in stark contrast from the predominant attitude of athletes during Jordan's prime an attitude Jordan himself embodied. Among the more than four dozen Black athletes who are part of the cause are Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes and Olympic champion sprinter Allyson Felix. Black athletes and celebrities have not been fully welding their power.