JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser examines five storylines from the Jaguars’ 34-17 loss to the Carolina Panthers in a 2026 Preseason Week 2 game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville Friday
1.Embracing opportunity I. Rookie quarterback Joey Aguilar, who completed his lone pass for 43 yards in a Preseason Week 1 victory over the New Orleans Saints, played the entire second half Friday – and produced some strong moments. "It felt good," Aguilar said. "I had a lot of mental errors I want to fix and clean up to operate better, but I felt like it was a good experience. It was a great time going out there. I appreciate the offensive line for finding that edge and grinding it out. Shoutout to those guys for coming out the second half and grinding and fighting to the end." Aguilar, who signed with the Jaguars as a collegiate free agent following the 2026 NFL Draft, completed nine of 10 passes for 130 yards Friday with a 29-yard fourth-quarter touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Trebor Peña. "I tried to deliver him a good ball, and he made the rest happen," Aguilar said.
2.Embracing opportunity II. Aguilar wasn't alone among Jaguars undrafted rookies making big plays Friday. Peña, who caught Aguiar's 43-yard pass against the Saints last week, caught four passes for 72 yards and a touchdown Friday. "He just continues to make plays and to be in the right spot at the right time," Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen said of Peña. "He and Joey have a natural connection from working together in a lot of these settings in practice." Said Peña, "Every week is big. You have to make the most out of your opportunities. Any time you step on the field it's an opportunity to be your best."
3.Early dealing. Friday was a good, productive night for the Jaguars' backup quarterback. Nick Mullens, a 10th-year NFL veteran starting a second consecutive game to start the preseason, completed six of seven passes for 65 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions Friday. Mullens, who completed three of seven passes for 33 yards with no touchdowns and an interception in Preseason Week 1 against the Saints, led a 71-yard field-goal drive late in the first quarter before leaving the game. "He did some good things," Coen said. "He was on time, in rhythm, getting the ball out. He did a nice job. I thought they protected well when Nick was in as well."
4.Veteran presence. Mullens was far from the only double-digit Jaguars veteran producing early Friday. Running back Ameer Abdullah, a 12th-year veteran who signed with the Jaguars in May after playing with the Indianapolis Colts last season, rushed for 45 yards on six carries after not playing against the Saints in Week 1. "I feel like I've had a pretty solid camp," he said. "It's about focusing on the next day and taking on the next day." Coen called Abdullah a "pro's pro," adding, "He definitely showed up tonight. It's what we've all been seeing in a lot of ways in practice. He's a guy who just does everything right. He's one of the first guys in the building with [veteran wide receiver] Parker [Washington]. He takes care of himself, treats himself the right way in terms of his body and getting his mind right for practice every day. He was able to show up tonight and able to look a little bit better than everybody else in a lot of ways." A highlight for Abdullah Friday: A 23-yard run early in the second quarter on which he made a spectacular cut to get free and get into the Panthers' secondary. Abdullah also caught three passes for 37 yards Friday. "I really just did my job," Abdullah said. "If I stay key on my fundamentals, I put myself in position to make a play. I feel like I'm a playmaker."
5.Youth served again. A strong showing early for the Jaguars Friday: The play of rookie wide receivers CJ Williams and Josh Cameron, a pair of sixth-round '26 selections who have impressed throughout training camp and the preseason. Cameron caught two passes for 41 yards in the first half, Mullens, with Williams catching four passes for 22 yards. "They're such pros in terms of their process already," Coen said. "In terms of showing up early, leaving late, doing more, doing extra, being locked into the details … then coming out in the lights and making plays. Those guys are earning trust for sure, and they're going to continue earn more."
