The Jacksonville Jaguars open their 30th NFL season (or more precisely, their 30th NFL preseason) at EverBank Stadium on Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Both teams are expected to use starters for a portion of the game, including Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is expected to see his first game action since signing his contract extension as the Jags enter the third season under head coach Doug Pederson.
Who will play, and who won’t? What are the position battles to watch? Will Taylor Swift show up? Whoever is in attendance should have plenty to cheer for at the Jags’ 2024 preseason opener.
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The Jaguars broke off two long kickoff returns in the first half of Saturday’s 26-13 preseason victory over the Chiefs at EverBank Stadium, a 73-yarder by Parker Washington in the first quarter to set up the Jags’ first touchdown, and a 45-yarder by Tank Bigsby near the end of the second quarter that came off a free kick by the Chiefs — after Mecole Hardman botched a return that eventually was ruled a safety. — Garry Smits
NFL preseason football isn’t so much about how the starters perform, but identifying which players in supporting roles can be counted on to deliver in real games. From that standpoint, the Jacksonville Jaguars made some critical strides in Saturday night’s 26-13 victory over the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs at EverBank Stadium. — Gene Frenette
That’s a 1-0 start for the Jaguars in preseason. An encouraging and mostly injury-free debut for Doug Pederson and the Jags. — Clayton Freeman
Almost six points on that drive for the Jaguars, but Mac Jones couldn’t quite connect with Josiah Deguara on a pass that floated to the end zone and fluttered off the tight end’s fingertips. Still, the Jaguars added some insurance with a 31-yard field goal from Cam Little. Jones had completed eight of his first nine attempts tonight.
Jaguars 26, Chiefs 13, 3:21 4th. — Clayton Freeman
New safety Terrell Edmunds is just blasting people right now for the Jacksonville secondary. He forced a fumble that the Chiefs ultimately got back, while Breeland Speaks added a sack on the drive. The Kansas City possession ended with a Harrison Butker field goal.
Jaguars 23, Chiefs 13, 10:16 4th. — Clayton Freeman
Fifteen minutes left in the preseason opener for the Jaguars, and for the most part, it’s been a solid start for Doug Pederson’s team. — Clayton Freeman
A nice day continues for Cam Little. The rookie is on target from 47 yards. Austin Trammell had a couple of solid catches on that Jacksonville drive.
Jaguars 23, Chiefs 10, 2:23 3rd. — Clayton Freeman
Another odd moment. Nikko Remigio caught a floating pass for Kansas City on an underthrown ball across midfield. Then, while he tried to get to his feet, Jaguars DB Christian Braswell ripped the ball away and took it back to the end zone for a 52-yard score. Officials wiped out the touchdown, saying Remigio was down by contact. Replays seemed to indicate otherwise. The Kansas City drive continues.
Jaguars 20, Chiefs 10, 8:40 3rd. — Clayton Freeman
Expect a lot of players on the roster bubble to get a close look in these next two quarters. Also, former Bolles School and Alabama QB Mac Jones, acquired from New England, is now behind center for the Jaguars. — Clayton Freeman
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said earlier in the week that the team’s starters needed to get their feet wet and they executed right away against the Kansas City Chiefs in the team’s preseason opener. Here are the key first-half takeaways. — Demetrius Harvey
Little name, big leg. After Tank Bigsby’s return on the safety kick set the Jaguars up with excellent field position, the Jags called for Cam Little from 62 yards. The rookie’s kick drifted left of the uprights but that attempt definitely had the distance. An encouraging first half is in the books for the Jaguars. — Clayton Freeman
Well, that was bizarre, new kickoff rules or not. The Jaguars’ kickoff bounced into the end zone, then bounced out of the end zone and onto the Kansas City 1. From there, Chiefs return man Mecole Hardman retreated to the end zone and took a knee with the ball, claiming a touchback. Officials first spotted the ball on the 30, but after a conference and a video review, they ruled a safety against Kansas City. Two free points for the Jags.
Jaguars 20, Chiefs 10, 0:25 2nd. — Clayton Freeman
C.J. Beathard absorbed two big-time hits on that series, but it ends up in the end zone. Beathard got crunched on a safety blitz but unloaded the football just in time to D’Ernest Johnson to cross midfield. Then, he took a high and hard hit on a floating pass that ended up in the hands of new wideout Devin Duvernay after a nice adjustment by the receiver. The Jaguars went for two, and Johnson powered into the end zone. A big play by Duvernay on that one.
Jaguars 18, Chiefs 10, 0:26 2nd. — Clayton Freeman
That was a loooooooong drive: 16 plays, 82 yards and a duration of 8 minutes, 23 seconds, with quarterback Chris Oladokun behind center. It ended with Carson Steele pounding his way into the end zone from 2 yards for the Chiefs, tying the score. Jaguars linebacker Ventrell Miller briefly left the action with an injury that did not appear serious.
Jaguars 10, Chiefs 10, 1:55 2nd. — Clayton Freeman
Another nice play from Parker Washington, a catch-and-run for a first down that continues a solid start to preseason for the receiver. He did lose the handle at the end of the play, but officials ruled him down by contact. Still, C.J. Beathard wasn’t able to advance Jacksonville much past midfield, and after consecutive incompletions, the Jags punted inside the Kansas City 20.
Jaguars 10, Chiefs 3, 10:18 2nd. — Clayton Freeman
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence won an all-too-brief battle with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes during Saturday’s preseason game at EverBank Stadium. Here’s a closer look inside the numbers. — Garry Smits
That’s not what Carson Wentz was looking for. The Kansas City QB was on the receiving end of an off-target snap that cost the Chiefs a bunch of yards after Wentz chased it down and got squashed by Daniel Thomas. That led to a third-and-29 and ultimately a three-and-out.
Jaguars 10, Chiefs 3, 11:55 2nd. — Clayton Freeman
It won’t count in the regular season stats, but Cam Little has his first successful field goal as an NFL kicker. It came from 40 yards, after the Jacksonville drive stalled out outside the 20. The promising start continues for the 20-year-old from Arkansas.
Jaguars 10, Chiefs 3, 14:10 2nd. — Clayton Freeman
C.J. Beathard is into the game for the Jaguars, with Trevor Lawrence on the bench now. The Jags have already advanced deep into Kansas City territory with a couple of big plays: Rookie Brian Thomas Jr. managed to fight off heavy physical contact downfield to gain 40 yards on an underthrown ball from Beathard, and Tank Bigsby powered up the middle for a gain to the fringe of the red zone. — Clayton Freeman
A good defensive stand for Jacksonville. Kansas City took over on the 50 but couldn’t go anywhere. Terrell Edmunds, a new addition to the Jacksonville secondary, forced a fumble on a third-down pass. Although the Chiefs recovered the loose ball, they still elected to punt. It’s Jacksonville football, and it looks like Trevor Lawrence is going to be staying on the sidelines.
Jaguars 7, Chiefs 3, 2:33 1st. — Clayton Freeman
A good start to the drive for the Jaguars, but… no finish this time. Trevor Lawrence started with a first-down strike over the middle to Gabe Davis. But on a third-down play, Davis couldn’t quite get his second foot down in bounds. Doug Pederson went for fourth down and Kansas City’s Jack Cochrane downed Lawrence for a sack at midfield. We’ll see how many more plays Lawrence gets in this one.
Jaguars 7, Chiefs 3, 4:30 1st. — Clayton Freeman
That’s going to do it for Patrick Mahomes, whose day is complete after one drive and one score. Carson Wentz entered for the Chiefs, but after a first-down pass to the 41, the Jaguars stuffed Kansas City. Yasir Abdullah, the 2023 draft pick who missed last season on IR, recorded a sack on Wentz, a play that certainly won’t hurt his chances of gaining a roster spot.
Jaguars 7, Chiefs 3, 6:45 1st. — Clayton Freeman
That’s the Clemson connection for the Jags, taking advantage of that Parker Washington kickoff return. After Trevor Lawrence’s toss to Luke Farrell advanced the football inside the 10, Lawrence found running back Travis Etienne for a crisp 9-yard score. Cam Little’s PAT is good for his first point and the Jags are in front.
Jacksonville 7, Kansas City 3, 9:40 1st. — Clayton Freeman
Looks like Parker Washington is adapting nicely to the new kickoff rules. The second-year return man dodged four tackles and took the return back to the Kansas City 20, starting off the Jaguars in prime field position. The Jaguars’ first return with the new format could be a promising sign for the future. — Clayton Freeman
Patrick Mahomes made that look pretty easy for a while, before the Kansas City offense bogged down inside the Jacksonville 30. The Jags’ defense, missing key contributors on the D-line and the secondary, was off balance on that one until a bobbled pass by Rashee Rice halted the Chiefs’ momentum. Harrison Butker entered for a field goal from 45 yards, and the visitors lead in Jacksonville.
Chiefs 3, Jaguars 0, 11:58 1st. — Clayton Freeman
Here we go. It’s the first modified kickoff in Jacksonville Jaguars preseason history, and the Jags’ defense goes to work now against Patrick Mahomes. — Clayton Freeman
It’ll be at least another week until Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Arik Armstead takes the field. Here’s why. — Demetrius Harvey
Don’t tell Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence the preseason doesn’t matter. Ahead of Saturday night’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Lawrence spoke with media from the Miller Electric Center at the conclusion of Day 13 of training camp. — Juston Lewis
Whenever NFL players sign contracts that bring them a lifetime of financial security, it ratchets up the pressure and scrutiny to deliver on that generational wealth. Considering the trio of high-profile Jacksonville Jaguars who were given a combined $341.4 million in guaranteed money the past four months — Trevor Lawrence ($200 million, Josh Hines-Allen ($88 million) and Tyson Campbell ($53.4 million) — it begs the question about which one will do the most in 2024 to validate their NFL lotto ticket? — Gene Frenette
For many people, the top question for the Jacksonville Jaguars’ preseason NFL opener against the Kansas City Chiefs isn’t about Trevor Lawrence and his performance with that huge contract. Or two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes. Or how the Jags‘ defensive scheme will look under new coordinator Ryan Nielsen. Instead: Is Taylor Swift coming to Jacksonville? — Clayton Freeman
There’s still time: Catch up with “The *State* of Florida Sports Podcast” ahead of the Jaguars’ Saturday night kickoff against the Chiefs. — Tim Walters
The Jaguars have a gluttony of depth at key positions this year. Who will rise to the top and which groups should be watched tonight against the Kansas City Chiefs? — Demetrius Harvey
A number of notable names are out of action for the Jaguars tonight. Not playing against Kansas City, the team announced, are running back Keilan Robinson, offensive linemen Ezra Cleveland, Anton Harrison and Steven Jones, defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson and defensive backs Tyson Campbell, Darnell Savage and Andrew Wingard. Most other starters, including QB Trevor Lawrence, should be good to go. — Clayton Freeman
What’s the series history? The Jaguars are 3-1 vs. Kansas City in the preseason but this is the first time in nearly a quarter-century that they’ve met in August. Catch more details ahead of the opening kickoff. — Garry Smits
Football is back at EverBank Field. Jacksonville Jaguars fans will get their first look at the 2024 team on Saturday at 7 p.m. when the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs come to town to open the three-game preseason schedule. Here’s what fans need to know. — Garry Smits
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