Brian Thomas Jr.

A left shoulder issue flared up in preseason joint practice and again forced an early exit from the Week 1 game (Questionable, 0d practice limitation); a soft-tissue/joint injury that recurs within weeks is a real risk to a snap/target ramp built on contested vertical routes.

Target share slid from 19% in Week 17 to 7% in the Wild Card game and opened the new season at a similarly muted clip before the shoulder exit, extending a fade rather than reversing it.

Jakobi Meyers (re-signed) and a strong-camp Parker Washington both command early-down/possession volume, capping the target share available even to the WR1 in a vertical-only role.

Travis Hunter has been confirmed as a 3A/3B receiver with his offense snaps capped in favor of a starting cornerback role, removing the biggest internal threat to Thomas's target share that existed entering camp.

A 14.4 aDOT with 42% deep targets inside a pass-heavy, positive-PROE offense preserves a boom-week ceiling, and the coaching staff has publicly credited an offseason catching emphasis for improved chemistry with the starting quarterback.