JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser examines five storylines from the Jaguars’ 19-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a 2026 Preseason Week 3 game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville Friday

1.Ready and able. The Jaguars finished the 2026 preseason 2-1, with victories over the New Orleans Saints and Buccaneers and a loss to the Carolina Panthers. They also appeared to grow stronger as the preseason continued, with strong joint practices against the Panthers before Preseason Week 2 and against the Buccaneers this past Tuesday – and Coen on Friday spoke positively of the 2026 Training Camp and the preseason overall. "You look at the physicality, just truly understanding how we have to play," Coen said. "That became a little bit of a calling card of our team last season, but then you have to reintegrate that. You have all these new players, all these rookies, all these young guys who are playing the majority of the snaps in these games. Our team did a nice job of truly putting that together." Added Coen, "For us to have success, we have to play that way."

2. "A great build." Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone spoke positively of the preseason and training camp during Friday's first half. "I think it was a great build," Gladstone said of '26 camp and the preseason during a first-half interview with Brian Sexton and Bucky Brooks on the Jaguars' preseason game broadcast. "There's still a little bit more to do. We have some time before now and when we kick things off with Cleveland in Week 1, but there was a pretty good step from where we entered things."  The Jaguars, like all NFL teams, have until Sunday at 6 p.m. to trim their roster from 90 players to the NFL regular-season limit of 53. "We're jacked about the energy, the effort, the continual improvement that showed up," Gladstone said. "We'll try our best to keep as many of these guys around as we possibly can. It's not always all in our control. Other teams could have the luxury of claiming them off waivers once they're cut, but we would love to continue to develop so many of these guys we already have in house. We'll certainly explore the options that exist outside, but a lot of that happens over the next 48 hours or so."

3.Playing for a spot. The second and third quarters Friday featured extensive work for the Jaguars' reserve quarterbacks, with Carter Bradley playing the second quarter and into the third before Joey Aguilar finished the game. "Both of them were efficient," Coen said. "There were a few things both would like to have back." Added Coen, "I thought they operated a little bit better than we had maybe see." Bradley, who spent last season on the Jaguars' practice squad, played six series Friday and completed eight of 15 passes for 77 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions. He finished the preseason, completing 24 of 45 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions. Aguilar, who signed with the Jaguars as a collegiate free agent following the 2026 NFL Draft, played three series Friday and completed seven of nine passes for 57 yards and no touchdowns with no interceptions. He finished the preseason completing 17 of 20 passes for 230 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions. "He has a presence about him," Coen said of Aguilar. "The offense kind of rolls with him in there at times."

4.Quarter and done. Nick Mullens, the Jaguars' backup quarterback, started a third consecutive preseason game Friday – and as was the case in Preseason Weeks 1 and 2, Mullens played the first quarter before leaving. Mullens, who completed three of seven passes for 33 yards with an interception in a Preseason Week 1 victory over the Saints, completed five of seven passes for 62 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions Friday. He finished the preseason completing 14 of 21 passes for 160 yards and no touchdowns with no interceptions.

5.Saaaaaack(s). Jaguars rookie defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr. had a strong training camp and preseason, and he finished with an impressive performance in Preseason Week 3. "I feel like definitely put in the good work, and put good stuff on film," Thomas said, adding of his roster status moving forward, "That's up to the coaches. I put good stuff on film, so that's up to them." Thomas, who signed with the Jaguars as a collegiate free agent following the 2026 NFL Draft, registered 2.5 sacks on Friday – one in the first half and 1.5 in the second – and continued his push for the active roster and/or practice squad. Thomas, who had a sack and two quarterback hurries in Preseason Week 1, finished the preseason with 3.5 sacks. "When you have a gift for rushing the passer, it's something you can't ignore," Coen said.