The Jaguars followed up last week’s flat showing against Houston by steamrolling the Chargers. But one moment kept resurfacing: Defensive end Dawuane Smoot letting up on what looked like an easy sack of quarterback Trey Lance. It appeared half-hearted in real time, but former pass rusher J.J. Watt didn’t hesitate to defend him and every defender in football.

Responding to a clip questioning why Smoot didn’t just finish the tackle, Watt pointed to the climate defenders operate in now.

“This is a perfect example of what some of these “roughing the passer” calls are doing to defenders…,” he wrote on X.

Smoot had already been flagged for roughing earlier in the game and, like every defender this year, is fully aware of how quickly a routine hit can turn into a 15-yard penalty and quite a he

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