Jaguars preseason defeat highlights emerging contributors and some setbacks
In a 34-17 preseason loss to the Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville saw several depth players make strong impressions while a few rookies and backups struggled for playing time.
Jacksonville continued its preseason schedule on Friday, falling 34-17 to the Carolina Panthers. The game gave coaches a chance to evaluate a range of roster candidates as the team approaches its final cuts.
Head coach Doug Pederson praised the effort in the joint practice earlier in the week, noting the physicality and execution displayed. He said, > "I definitely liked what I saw from the joint practice. I was pleased with the physicality, the effort, the energy and a lot of the execution."
Quarterback Nick Mullens, returning from a minor injury, completed six of seven passes for 65 yards and was close to a perfect outing before a dropped touchdown pass by Ameer Abdullah ended the drive. Pederson commented, > "I thought he did some good things… he was on time, in rhythm, getting the ball out."
Running back Ameer Abdullah earned his first start after an injury to LeQuint Allen and posted a strong performance, positioning himself as a potential roster regular. Wide receivers Josh Cameron and CJ Williams each caught all six of their targets, with Cameron delivering a notable deep catch.
Defensive standouts included Ventrell Miller and Branson Combs, who both received significant snaps and were highlighted for their differing skill sets. Pederson said, > "Whoever ends up as number one is semantics… we’ll need both of them to play significant snaps."
Undrafted players also made an impact: defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr. continued to show pressure and run-stopping ability, while wide receiver Trebor Peña recorded four catches for 72 yards and a touchdown, reinforcing his connection with quarterback Joey Aguilar.
Conversely, rookie tight ends Nate Boerkircher and Tanner Koziol saw limited action, and quarterback Carter Bradley struggled, completing six of 13 passes for 51 yards. Running back DeeJay Dallas fumbled during the game, and cornerback Jabbar Muhammad allowed several completions without recording a pass breakup.
The coaching staff will use these performances to shape the final roster as the Jaguars move toward the regular season.