OVERVIEW …
ATLANTA – The on-field names were unfamiliar, and the familiar ones filled the sidelines.
That's the nature of NFL Preseason Week 4 these days, which was how it was for the Jaguars and the Atlanta Falcons in a 17-15 Falcons victory at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta Thursday.
No player listed as a starter for the Jaguars played in the 2016 preseason finale, a game in which the Jaguars took an early lead before the Falcons rallied with 17 consecutive points to take a 10-point halftime lead. The Jaguars then rallied to within two points in the second half.
Brandon Allen, the Jaguars' third-team quarterback, started and played the entire game with starter Blake Bortles ruled out before the game along with 27 other Jaguars players – and with Jaguars backup quarterback Chad Henne available to play only in an emergency.
Allen, a rookie 2016 sixth-round draft selection, completed 17 of 26 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. His 25-yard pass to wide receiver Shaq Evans on the Jaguars' second drive gave Jacksonville a 7-0 lead with 5:28 remaining in the first quarter.
Linebacker Myles Jack, a second-round selection in the 2016 NFL Draft, was the most high-profile Jaguars player who played Thursday. He started at weak-side linebacker, a position where he could play a key role during the season. Jack had worked at middle linebacker before practicing at weak-side linebacker this week.
Jack stood out early against Atlanta with four tackles on the first two series, including three tackles on a three-play Falcons opening drive.
Falcons running back Terron Ward's three-yard run tied the game 7-7 with 13:20 remaining in the second quarter. Wad's one-yard touchdown with :10 remaining in the second quarter made it 14-7 and Matt Bryant converted a 27-yard field goal following a lost fumble on the ensuing kickoff to make it 17-7 Atlanta at halftime.
Allen passed five yards to rookie wide receiver Shane Wynn on the first play of the fourth quarter made it 17-13, Falcons. Allen's two-point pass to tight end Neal Sterling cut the lead to two.
PLAYER OF THE GAME …
Jack.The rookie pretty much clinched this on the first series. There were other players with more obvious statistics, but all eyes were on Jack early – and the play-making linebacker was impressive. He ran down Falcons running back Devonta Freeman on the game's first play, and leveled running back Tevin Coleman on the second play. He made a tackle on wide receiver Mohamed Sanu on the third play to force a three and out. He then opened the second series with an assisted tackle.
OFFENSIVELY …
The Jaguars' offense moved effectively at times, and Allen flashed on several drives. They finished with 273 total yards and 17 first downs, rushing for 127 yards.
Images from the Jaguars fourth preseason game against the Falcons.
DEFENSIVELY …
The Jaguars allowed 315 yards and 16 first downs. Defensive back Josh Johnson had his second interception of the preseason.
SPECIALLY …
Kicker Jason Myers missed both of his field-goal attempts, missing from 49 and 57 yards. He converted his lone extra-point attempt.
INJURY UPDATES …
Defensive tackle Michael Bennett left the game in the third quarter with a calf injury.
Jaguars running back Denard Robinson was hit in the eye in the second quarter and returned before halftime.
Bortles was among 28 Jaguars players ruled out, with most being held out for precautionary reasons. Defensive tackle Roy Miller III (quad) and offensive tackle Josh Wells (thumb) hadn't played either of the last two weeks because of injuries.
Other offensive players ruled out Thursday: Wide receiver Allen Robinson, tight end Julius Thomas, left tackle Kelvin Beachum, left guard Luke Joeckel, center Brandon Linder, right guard A.J. Cann, right tackle Jermey Parnell, tight end Marcedes Lewis, wide receiver Allen Hurns, running backs T.J. Yeldon and Chris Ivory and wide receiver Marqise Lee.
Other defensive players ruled out: Leo Dante Fowler Jr., defensive tackle Malik Jackson, defensive end Jared Odrick, weakside linebacker Telvin Smith, middle linebacker Paul Posluszny, Otto linebacker Dan Skuta, cornerback Davon House, free safety Tashaun Gipson, strong safety Johnathan Cyprien and cornerbacks Prince Amukamara and Jalen Ramsey, Leo Yannick Ngakoue and defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks.
STANDING OUT …
*Evans, released Monday as the Jaguars trimmed the roster to 75 players and re-signed Wednesday, caught three passes for 54 yards. …
*Running back Corey Grant rushed eight times for 62 yards and running back Joe Banyard rushed 11 times for 43 yards. …
*Jaguars offensive starters Thursday: Allen, running back Denard Robinson, wide receiver Rashad Lawrence, tight end Ben Koyack, left tackle Patrick Omameh, left guard Mackenzy Bernadeau, center Tyler Shatley, right guard Kadeem Edwards, right tackle Rashod Hill, tight end Neal Sterling and wide receiver Arrelious Benn. …
*Defensive starters: Leo Chris Smith, defensive tackle Michael Bennett, defensive tackle Richard Ash, defensive end Abry Jones, Jack, middle linebacker Hayes Pullard III, Otto Ryan Davis, cornerback Nick Marshall, free safety Jarrod Wilson, strong safety Josh Evans and cornerback Dwayne Gratz. …
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