JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It was a start and a good one.
The Jaguars saw what they needed to from the starters and got significant contributions from the backups and kicked off their preseason slate with a thorough performance against the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs on Saturday night at EverBank Stadium.
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The score was a footnote, a 26-13 Jaguars win, but Doug Pederson saw quite a bit to be positive about.
Trevor Lawrence tossed a short scoring pass to Travis Etienne and the starting defense gave up just a field goal to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in a solid night of work.
“It’s a new season, new faces. Some old faces out there. For us internally, it’s just a different feel, a different team, a whole different year,” Pederson said. “It’s not anything about last year. It’s just about getting better and moving forward.”
The starting offense put points on the board when it got into the red zone, something it struggled with last season. Special teams were strong, with rookie kicker Cam Little hitting three field goals and pulling a 62-yard just left. Players who had up and down rookie seasons looked far more confident in year 2. And Ryan Nielsen’s defense got out to a promising start.
That’s a lot for Pederson and Co. to like as it prepares to head into an unusual week with a pair of joint practices with the Buccaneers and a preseason clash next Saturday night.
How’d Trevor look?
Offensive coordinator Press Taylor, the pinata after Jacksonville’s woeful offensive efforts in 2023, called plays against the Chiefs and dialed up a solid play call to get the Jaguars on the board. Given excellent field position after a 73-yard kickoff return by Parker Washington, the Jaguars got an opportunity quick to face their red zone demons from last year. Lawrence hit Luke Farrell on a 13-yard snag near the sideline to put Jacksonville inside the 10, then hit Etienne on a short slant two plays later on a 9-yard touchdown.
It wasn’t a long scoring drive, just 20 yards, but it was big for the Jaguars. Jacksonville was tied for 21st in the league last season (with Carolina) in red zone success at just 50%. It ranked 19th in goal to go efficiency (69%).
“You want to win every game you play. It feels good to win. We played really clean all the way across the board. Our depth showed on both sides of the ball. Special teams did a great job, too, made some plays. I think that’s the best thing,” Lawrence said. “We got some great work against a good team who does a lot of different things whether it’s defensively or offensively, presents some challenges. I think it’s always good to kind of measure up against teams like them or teams in the league in general.”
Lawrence’s best toss of the night was a 20-yard strike to Gabe Davis on the ensuing drive, That drive ended when Lawrence was sacked on a fourth-and-5 play. He was 3 of 4 for 42 yards and a touchdown. Not a long night, but a positive one for Lawrence, even with the failed fourth-down play.
BTJ’s big catch
There have been questions about rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr. throughout training camp. He’s been a bit of a tough case to get a read on. On some plays, Thomas has looked lackadaisical and in slow motion. Others, he dials in and makes a jaw-dropping play. There have been far more of the head-scratching moments in camp than ‘wow moments.’ Maybe BTJ is just a gamer.
His first target in the NFL was too wide from CJ Beathard. Thomas’ next target was a highlight of a grab, a 41-yard diving grab with Joshua Williams blanketed on him. Thomas made the highlight of a catch, stood up and did a marksman-type celebration to signify the first down snag.
“It felt great to be able to come out here. It’s just something I dreamed of playing in the NFL, just to be able to get that first game out of the way, it felt great,” Thomas said. “There was a lot of excitement going into the game, but I mean, I had to control my emotions and stay focused. I feel like I did good. It was a great experience.”
Nielsen’s defense
It’s a big change from that of former defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell. Edge rushers Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen get to put their hands in the dirt and get after the quarterback, not drop back in coverage like they were asked to do as outside linebackers under Caldwell. Walker nearly sacked Carson Wentz on the second drive of the game, pushing him out of the pocket and setting up Yasir Abdullah for the sack. Roy Robertson-Harris wrapped up Clyde Edwards-Helaire for a 2-yard loss. Chad Muma had a pair of thumping tackles late in the opening quarter. The defense felt faster and more physical early.
Star Mahomes played just one series and moved the ball very well. He was 3 of 4 for 27 yards and set up a 43-yard field goal from Harrison Butker. Mahomes played just one series and Kansas City cycled through four quarterbacks in the game. The Jaguars finished with four sacks, including a team-high 1.5 by Esezi Otomewo.
“It goes back to our message back in April. I talked about development. I think that’s what you’re seeing out there in practice. It’s what I’m seeing anyway. Then tonight with so many guys playing in this game, there wasn’t really a dropoff,” Pederson said. “Sometimes when you get out of that first, second unit, sometimes there’s a letdown or a dropoff with play. I didn’t see that tonight. Our guys played fast, they played hard. Were there mistakes? Sure, there were mistakes, and MAs (missed assignments), things like that we can clean up this week. I think top to bottom, the guys played, credit to them, fast and they played physical.”
Parker Washington’s role
Washington had an up-and-down rookie season but did flash potential, largely in a primetime game against the Bengals. But he got a glowing endorsement this week in camp from Lawrence and flashed in limited action against Kansas City. On the first attempt in the NFL’s new kickoff scenario, Washington zig-zagged his way to a 73-yard return on Jacksonville’s first touch. That set up Lawrence with a short field that he turned into Jacksonville’s first touchdown. Washington also had a 10-yard catch.
The backup QBs
The homecoming for Mac Jones was a big story. The former Bolles star played the second half and was sacked for an 11-yard loss on his first series, a play where he should have just thrown the ball away. But that was his only negative play. Jones led a pair of scoring drives after that, both field goals by Little. Jones finished 9 of 11 for 98 yards. Beathard took over for Lawrence and had a highlight toss to Devin Duvernay just before half, a 35-yard touchdown diving strike. Beathard was 7 of 14 for 125 yards.
“All three of ‘em played good. They played smart. I don’t think there was a turnover there with those guys. Trevor played smart. Obviously the throw to Etienne,” Pederson said. “Then C.J. comes in and make some really nice down-the-field throws, in the face of adversity, too. Getting hit on the roughing the passer. For Mac to come in and do what he’s capable of doing... It’s a great room. It’s a great room.”
No Taylor Swift sighting
Taylor Swift, the girlfriend of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, hasn’t been spotted at EverBank Stadium. Swift had concerts canceled in Vienna due to an alleged terror plot so she had her night free. But, perhaps to the dismay of fans here, didn’t pop up in Jacksonville.