JACKSONVILLE – Jaguars correspondent John Shipley examines five key plays from the Jaguars' 19-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a 2026 Preseason Week 3 game at EverBank Stadium Friday
1.All the way back. Rookie wide receiver Michael Wortham improved as the preseason continued, capping Friday's victory with perhaps the most memorable play of the Jaguars' preseason. "It's a blessing," Wortham said. "Can't be thankful enough." Wortham, who signed as a collegiate free agent following the 2026 NFL Draft, led the Jaguars with three receptions for 47 yards Friday. He also returned five punts for a 24.6-yard average, including a 63-yarder for a fourth-quarter touchdown that gave the Jaguars their final margin of victory. "He's got a phenomenal 'forward lean' about the way that he runs," Head Coach Liam Coen said. "He's a football player at heart. He's kind of built a little bit -- I don't want to say like Parker [Washington], but in some ways, there's some similar play styles there. He definitely made it challenging tonight." Added Wortham, "You only got one opportunity, it is what you do with it. How can you make the most of your opportunity? I kept my head down, kept working, man. Learning from the guys in front of me. Sometimes you just don't get your way. Sometimes you're low on the depth chart, but it's what you do with your opportunity to get in. That's just kind of my mindset. I'm not going to sit here and pout. I know how it is and I got to earn my stripes."
2.Wreaking havoc. A constant for the Jaguars' 2026 preseason was rookie defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr. The undrafted pass-rusher from South Carolina consistently made big plays for the Jaguars' defense throughout the preseason. He did so again Friday with 2.5 sacks, four quarterback hits, and a pass breakup that was nearly a strip-sack that – had it not been ruled incomplete – would have resulted in a Jalen Huskey defensive touchdown. "When you put in the work during Monday through Friday, whatever it is, however the schedule goes, living in the training room, getting your body right, working on your weaknesses, you come out here on Friday, it's just like second nature," Thomas said. "Feels great. Feels great. Like I said, put in the workday and night and when results like this happen, shouldn't be surprised. You put in the work for it." Fellow rookie end Wesley Williams – a fourth-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft – also impressed Friday with a quarterback pressure. Williams also recovered a botched snap early in the game.
3.Go Long. Jaguars backup quarterback Nick Mullens started for a third consecutive game, connecting with veteran tight end Hunter Long for an early explosive gain. After a play-action fake, Mullens found Long alone in the flat. Long turned the completion into a 34-yard gain that was easily the Jaguars' most productive passing play Friday.
4.Little from deep. The game's first points came from a predictable source: Jaguars kicker Cam Little, who has been perfect all preseason on field goals and point-after attempts. After rookie wide receiver Trebor Peña returned a punt 15 yards to the Jaguars' 42-yard line in the second quarter, the didn't have to move much farther for Little to become a weapon. The offense moved 15 more yards to set up a 61-yard attempt, which Little converted with relative ease to give the Jaguars a 3-0 lead with 10:21 remaining in an otherwise scoreless first half.
5.Bradley Does His Part. Jaguars reserve Carter Bradley led the Jaguars to their first scoring drive near the end of the third quarter with some clutch throws. With the Jaguars starting at their 26-yard line, Bradley hit timely passes of 19 yards to Wortham and 12 yards on 4th-and-1 to wide receiver Chandler Brayboy. The drive stalled in the red zone after a DeeJay Dallas rush was ruled short of the end zone. On 3rd-and-1 from the 1-yard line, Bradley hit Dallas in the flat for the game's first touchdown. On the next play, Bradley ran a quarterback keeper for a two-point conversion and an 11-0 Jaguars lead. "I thought Carter did a nice job leading the touchdown drive," Coen said. "Did a great job on the two-point play making a guy miss."
