Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby (4) runs as Detroit Lions defensive end John Cominsky (79) defends during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Published on August 20, 2023 at 9:35 pm
Preseason games in the NFL are typically useful for two things. First, it’s a testing ground for coaches to determine roster spots and settle position battles. The second is to provide evidence for how good or bad a team will be in the regular season.
Saturday’s Jaguars’ game in Detroit against the Lions was useless for the latter.
Only two Jaguars who are expected to be starters got playing time. Left tackle Cam Robinson, who will serve a four-game suspension to start the season, and the man who is penciled in to start in his place for the first month, Walker Little, who started at left guard (a position he could slide over to once Robinson returns from suspension).
The Jaguars won the game 25-7. But final scores in the preseason are the least informative statistic.
So, what did we learn from the Jaguars’ second preseason game?
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The Jaguars’ depth is improving
Jacksonville and Detroit are viewed as comparable teams heading into the 2023 season. If that assessment is correct, the Jaguars at least showed their backups are better than the Lions’. Jacksonville led 12-0 at halftime and was never threatened. Some notable performances from the backups included:
— Rookie running back Tank Bigsby continued to show his talent. The third-round pick from Auburn rushed 12 times for 79 yards. Bigsby has averaged 5.5 yards per rush in the preseason.
—Second-year defensive back Greg Junior had another takeaway. He intercepted a first-quarter pass and returned it 37 yards, setting up a Jaguars touchdown. Junior has been a part of three takeaways in two preseason games.
—Veteran defensive tackle Jeremiah Ledbetter continues to make a case for playing time. Ledbetter had a sack for the second straight preseason game and had a pair of quarterback hits in the game.
Despite all other indications, there is no quarterback competition behind Trevor Lawrence
CFL star Nathan Rourke continues to play well. After his eye-opening touchdown pass last week, Rourke completed 10 of 12 passes for 121 yards. But after the game, head coach Doug Pederson pushed aside any thought that Rourke would supplant C.J. Beathard as Lawrence’s backup.
“I thought Nathan did well again today, a couple of touchdown drives there and he’s done a nice job,” Pederson said. “He has done exactly what we ask him to do. C.J. is our number two and Trevor is number one.”
That being said, expect Rourke to be kept on the roster as the emergency quarterback under the NFL’s new roster rules.
The Jaguars’ draft picks should contribute
In addition to first-round pick Anton Harrison, who is expected to start at right tackle, several other rookies appear able to contribute if needed. Bigsby, tight end Brenton Strange, linebacker Ventrell Miller, pass rusher Yasir Abdullah, wide receiver Parker Washington, and cornerback Christian Braswell have all flashed. Guard Cooper Hodges, a Baker County High School product, looked good until a knee injury Saturday. It’s still very early, but the draft class looks to be a good one.
Looking ahead to the final preseason game on Saturday against the Miami Dolphins, we should expect to see starters play at least two quarters of football. So far this preseason, the Jaguars’ starters have not taken a single snap against opposition starters in a game situation. Will it happen at home against the Dolphins?
Lead image: Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby (4) runs as Detroit Lions defensive end John Cominsky (79) defends on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, in Detroit. | AP Photo/Duane Burleson
