NEW ORLEANS, La. – This was a day for youth, and for a lot of competing.

That made the 2026 preseason opener important for many Jaguars players, though not for most starters and front-line players – with a slew of rookies and reserves playing in a 24-20 victory over the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome Saturday afternoon.

While winning was an important thing, it wasn't the only thing.

Rookie running back J'mari Taylor's 2-yard touchdown run with 4:55 remaining capped a second-half rally and gave the Jaguars their first lead – by the final margin. This came one play after reserve quarterback Joey Aguilar's 43-yard pass to rookie wide receiver Trebor Pena.

Jaguars kicker Cam Little converted field goals of 54 and 32 yards in the first half and 36 yards in the fourth quarter, with reserve quarterback Carter Bradley's third-quarter touchdown pass to tight end Hunter Long – and a conversion run by Taylor – cutting a 20-6 Saints halftime lead to six points.

Taylor rushed for 78 yards on 22 carries.

Bradley, who spent last season on the Jaguars' practice squad, completed 10 of 17 passes for 105 yards and one touchdown with one interception. Backup quarterback Nick Mullens started and played about a quarter, completing three of seven passes for 33 yards. He was intercepted by linebacker Jaylan Ford at the Saints 4 to end a first-quarter drive.

Aguilar, who – like Taylor – signed with the Jaguars as a collegiate free agent following the 2026 NFL Draft, replaced Bradley with 7:35 remaining in the fourth quarter. The 43-yarder to Pena was his lone pass of the game.

The Jaguars registered four sacks Saturday: One by defensive tackle Ruke Ohorhoro/defensive end Danny Striggow in the first quarter to end the Saints' second drive, one by linebacker Yasir Abdullah to set up a first-quarter field goal, one in the third quarter by rookie defensive tackle Albert Regis and one in the fourth quarter by defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr.

2026 Preseason Week 1, Step by step:

• Running back Audric Esteme gave the Saints a 7-0 lead with a nine-yard run with 14:39 remaining in the first quarter, a play that came one play after running back Ty Chandler returned the opening kickoff 86 yards. Little's 54-yard field goal made it 7-3, Saints, with 1:49 remaining in the first quarter. Little's 32-yard field goal three plays after defensive end B.J. Green recovered a sack/fumble forced by Abdullah cut the lead to 7-6 with :17 remaining in the first quarter.
• Kicker Tanner Brown's 49-yard field goal with 7:49 remaining in the second quarter pushed the Saints' lead to 10-6, with quarterback Zach Wilson's one-yard touchdown pass to tight end Oscar Delp giving the Saints a 17-6 lead with 3:06 remaining in the quarter. Brown's 29-yard field goal in the final play of the half pushed the lead to 20-6.
• Bradley's 1-yard pass to Long capped a 10-play, 79-yard drive and – along with Taylor's conversion run – cut the lead to 20-14 with 8:53 remaining in the third quarter.
• Little's 36-yard field goal with 8:35 remaining cut the lead to 20-17.

Notable: Jaguars offensive lineman Chuma Edoga left on the first drive with an injury. … The following Jaguars players did not participate Saturday: Cornerback Montaric Brown, cornerback Jourdan Lewis, wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, cornerback Jarrian Jones, running back LeQuint Allen Jr., safety Antonio Johnson, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., wide receiver Parker Washington, wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, quarterback Trevor Lawrence, linebacker Foye Oluokun, running back Chris Rodriguez Jr., safety Eric Murray, running back Bhayshul Tuten, linebacker Jalen McLeod, defensive end Josh Hines-Allen, running back Ameer Abdullah, defensive end Travon Walker, linebacker Dennis Gardeck, nose tackle DaVon Hamilton, linebacker Jack Kiser (knee), guard Patrick Mekari, defensive tackle Quinton Bohanna, right tackle Walker Little, center Robert Hainsey, left guard Ezra Cleveland, left tackle Anton Harrison, tight end Brenton Strange, defensive tackle Arik Armstead and defensive tackle Matt Dickerson.

In case you missed it: Abdullah had a nice tackle in punt coverage to tackle Saints returner Barion Brown for a seven-yard loss at the Saints 7 in the first quarter. … Second-year veterans Jonah Monheim and Wyatt Milum, expected to be key parts of the line rotation this season, started and left the game shortly after Edoga's first-quarter injury. … Linebacker Branson Combs, competing with Ventrell Miller at outside linebacker, had a second-quarter pass breakup with safety Rayuan Lane registering a pass breakup on the ensuing