How Should Jaguars Fans Feel After the Team’s Final Preseason Game?
The Jacksonville Jaguars' preseason came to an end on Saturday night, following a 14-6 loss to the Miami Dolphins. With Jacksonville’s next game being Week One against the Carolina Panthers, this week was the final showcase for players before the inevitable roster cuts. Head coach Liam Coen and staff will have to cut down the roster to 53 players, leaving many on the chopping block. However, fans of the Jaguars should feel optimistic about the season ahead following a disastrous 2024 campaign.
One position the Jaguars should feel confident about following the preseason is their overloaded running back unit. New additions in LeQuint Allen and Bhayshul Tuten had fantastic performances throughout the preseason, meaning running backs Ja’Quinden Jackson and Kevin Harris are on the chopping block following their combined 72 rushing yards against Miami. Coen will still have to decide on whether the rookies did enough to take a starting spot away from veteran Travis Etienne Jr. and 2024 standout Tank Bigsby. While it is rare for teams to carry a lot of running backs, it seems more and more likely that Jacksonville will enter the 2025 campaign with at least three running backs, if not four.
If there is one position that Jacksonville will have no questions about, it is on special teams. Kicker Cam Little, who set the record for the longest field goal on record in an organized football game with a 70-yarder against the Pittsburgh Steelers, had yet another great night against the Dolphins. Little went perfectly on field goals by hitting two, one for 59 yards. Little ended the preseason by hitting all seven field goals and all three extra points. Jacksonville may have position battles elsewhere, but kicker is not one of them.
Many expected the starters to play in this game, but they did not play in the final exhibition match against Miami. This may be a sign that Coen has his roster almost finalized, letting the players on the fence of being cut get their final shot on the field to prove they belong in Duval County. The Jaguars end their preseason with two losses and one tie. However, winning or losing games in the preseason means nothing compared to how a team performs when it matters most. For Jacksonville, the countdown to the real season begins.
