JACKSONVILLE – This was another week for youth and potential.
That's how the Jaguars approached a second consecutive game to start the 2026 preseason, with a 34-17 loss to the Carolina Panthers at EverBank Stadium Friday largely about depth – and again developing reserves and young players.
This was another game for evaluation, and there were moments as the night continued.
The Jaguars opted to play few starters Friday in Preseason Week 2 after taking the same approach in a Preseason Week 1 victory over the New Orleans Saints last Saturday. Head Coach Liam Coen has said starters won't play in the preseason finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at EverBank Stadium Friday.
The Jaguars trailed 20-6 at halftime for a second consecutive week, scoring three field goals by kicker Cam Little – of 34, 34 and 43 yards – in the first three quarters.
Officials called the game because of weather at the two-minute warning.
Among the Jaguars' storylines Friday:
A strong early surge from quarterback Nick Mullens, who started a second consecutive week and who completed six of seven passes for 65 yards Friday. Mullens, who completed three of seven passes for 33 yards with 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.
Third-team quarterback Carter Bradley replaced Mullens to start the second quarter, completing six of 13 passes for 51 yards and no touchdowns. He also threw a second-quarter interception that led to a Panthers touchdown that pushed their lead to two touchdowns at halftime.
Rookie quarterback Joey Aguilar, a collegiate free agent signed shortly after the 2026 NFL Draft, played the entire second half and completed nine of 10 passes for 130 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions. Aguilar's 29-yard pass to wide receiver Trebor Peña closed the scoring in the fourth quarter.
2026 Preseason Week 2, Step by step:
- Running back Jonathan Brooks rushed for a one-yard touchdown to cap the Panthers' second drive and give Carolina a 7-0 lead with 7:34 remaining in the first quarter; the Panthers played mostly starters against Jaguars reserves to that point, driving 58 yards on seven plays on their touchdown drive. Little's first 34-yard field goal cut the lead to 7-3 with :29 remaining in the first quarter.
- Panthers kicker Ryan Fitzgerald's 48-yard field goal extended the lead to 10-3 with 5:26 remaining in the second quarter. Panthers running back A.J. Dillon's seven-yard touchdown run with 2:07 remaining in the second quarter made it 17-3 – and came three plays after cornerback Chau Smith-Wade's interception off Bradley gave the Panthers possession at the Jaguars 27. Little's 34-yard field goal with :21 remaining in the half cut the lead to 17-6. Fitzgerald's 61-yard field goal on the last play of the second quarter made it 20-6, Panthers.
- Wide receiver Roc Taylor's 16-yard reception from quarterback Kenny Pickett pushed the Panthers' lead to 27-6 with 1:25 remaining in the third quarter.
- Little's 43-yard field goal with 13:34 remaining in the game cut the lead to 27-9, with Panthers wide receiver Casey Washington's 15-yard reception from quarterback Kyle Trask pushing the lead to 34-9 with 6:48 remaining. Aguilar's touchdown to Peña came with 3:12 remaining.
Notable: The following Jaguars players did not play Friday: Quarterback Trevor Lawrence, running back LeQuint Allen Jr., running back Chris Rodriguez Jr., running back Bhayshul Tuten, wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., wide receiver Parker Washington, wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, tight end Brenton Strange, tight end Nate Boerkircher, offensive lineman Chuma Edoga, offensive lineman Geron Christian Jr., guard Wyatt Milum, guard Patrick Mekari, offensive lineman Timothy McKay, offensive tackle Cole Van Lanen, right tackle Walker Little, center Robert Hainsey, left guard Ezra Cleveland, left tackle Anton Harrison, defensive end Josh Hines-Allen, defensive end Travon Walker, nose tackle DaVon Hamilton, defensive tackle Arik Armstead, defensive tackle Matt Dickerson, defensive tackle Albert Regis, linebacker Foye Oluokun, linebacker Jalen McLeod, linebacker Dennis Gardeck, linebacker Jack Kiser, cornerback Montaric Brown, cornerback Jourdan Lewis, cornerback Jarrian Jones, safety Antonio Johnson and safety Eric Murray.
In case you missed it: Linebacker Branson Combs blitzed and pressured Panthers quarterback Bryce Young into a third-down incompletion to force a Carolina punt on the game's first possession. … Veteran running back Ameer Abdullah, a 12th-year veteran who signed with the Jaguars in the offseason – and who did not play in Preseason Week 1 – rushed for 45 yards on six carries, all in the first half. … Rookie defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr., who signed with the Jaguars as a collegiate free agent following the 2026 NFL Draft, continued a strong training camp/preseason by forcing a holding a penalty with a strong pass rush on third-and-8 from the Jaguars 26 in the second quarter.
