METAIRIE, La. (WGNO) - Brian Thomas, Jr. is seeking a bounce back season. During his rookie campaign in 2024, the Walker native finishes top five in the NFL in receiving yards and top ten in touchdown catches. In 2025 though, the former LSU Tiger fails to reach 1000 yards and only has two receiving touchdowns on the year, but BTJ has been putting in the work this offseason to get back to his rookie year performance. "Just doing all the little things that I once was doing, just being intentional about the work I've been putting in, and just trying to do all the little things just to get back to where I was," Thomas said. "He's come in with a mindset, a mentality that everything's forward. Everything's ahead of him right now. We're staying in the moment in terms of each day, trying to get the best out of them. The connection and chemistry with {Trevor Lawrence} has gotten better and improved. I would have liked to have been able to hit a little a couple deep ones today, but the way {Brandon Staley} plays that defense, it kind of makes you really be patient as an offensive play caller," Jags second-year head coach Liam Coen explained. Brandon Staley's defense provides Thomas with an SEC iron-sharpening-iron opportunity: Going up against former Alabama Crimson Tide cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry. The two have gone against one another since their college days, and Thursday's joint practice writes another chapter in their competitive history. "I've been going up against him for a little minute now: College, now NFL, we even played AAU basketball against each other. We've been going up against each other for a little minute, but it's always cool going up against him," Thomas continued. "I think when you have the confidence in a corner to go out and say 'hey, you got him, let's go play one-on-one and play some ball.' I think that ultimately just helps your defense," Coen added. Now getting to the NFL has always been Thomas's goal, but the wide receiver does get to check off a childhood dream, being able to practice in front of Saints fans, but the Walker native is not fond of re-experiencing the Louisiana heat. "It definitely took a second. That's the one thing I don't miss, the heat, but just being able to come back home, and be able to come out here and do a little practice, it was great," the wide receiver noted. The Saints and Jaguars face-off in their preseason opener Saturday at 3:00 p.m.
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