JACKSONVILLE – As for the 2026 preseason …
That's a wrap.
The Jaguars on Friday finished the '26 preseason as they started it. And as they approached it throughout. They played few starters, focusing on depth and evaluation – and the result was a 19-0 victory over the Tampa Buccaneers in the '26 preseason finale at EverBank Stadium.
Jaguars reserve quarterback Carter Bradley threw a third-quarter touchdown pass – to running back DeeJay Dallas – and also ran for a two-point conversion, with kicker Cam Little converting a 61-yard field goal in the second quarter.
Jaguars rookie Michael Wortham returned a punt 63 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown.
Backup quarterback Nick Mullens, who played in all three Jaguars preseason games, started and played a scoreless first quarter. He completed five of seven passes for 62 yards, including a completion for 34 yards to tight end Hunter Long on the game's first possession.
He did not throw a touchdown or interception.
Bradley, as he did in the first two preseason games, replaced Mullens. He played in the second and third quarters, completing eight of 15 passes for 77 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions.
Joey Aguilar, as also was the case in the first two preseason games, replaced Bradley and finished the third quarter while playing the fourth quarter. He completed seven of nine passes for 57 yards and no touchdowns with no interceptions.
The 2025 AFC South champion Jaguars, like all NFL teams, have until Sunday at 6 p.m. to reduce their roster to the regular-season limit 53 players.
They open the 2026 regular season against the Cleveland Browns at EverBank Stadium on September 13.
2026 Preseason Week 3, Step by step:
- Neither team scored in the first quarter Friday, with the Jaguars outgaining the Buccaneers 67-58. The Jaguars punted after driving to the Buccaneers 40 on their first drive.
- Little's 61-yard field goal gave the Jaguars a 3-0 lead with 10:21 remaining in the second quarter, with the Jaguars missing a chance for a 10-0 lead when cornerback Benjamin Morrison defensed a pass from Bradley to wide receiver Austin Trammell on fourth-and-6 from the Buccaneers 11 with 3:38 remaining in the half.
- Bradley's touchdown pass to Dallas and ensuing two-point conversion pushed the lead to 11-0 with 3:45 remaining in the third quarter.
- Wortham's punt return came with 5:48 remaining, with Aguilar's conversion pass to wide receiver Chandler Brayboy making it 19-0.
Notable: The following Jaguars players did not play Friday: Wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, running back LeQuint Allen Jr., wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., wide receiver Parker Washington, wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, quarterback Trevor Lawrence, running back Chris Rodriguez Jr., running back Bhayshul Tuten, running back Ameer Abdullah, offensive lineman Chuma Edoga, guard Patrick Mekari, offensive tackle Cole Van Lanen, right tackle Walker Little, center Robert Hainsey, left guard Ezra Cleveland, left tackle Anton Harrison, tight end Brenton Strange, wide receiver CJ Williams, wide receiver Josh Cameron, center Jonah Monheim, offensive lineman Geron Christian Jr., guard Wyatt Milum, offensive lineman Daniel Faalele, tight end Nate Boerkircher, tight end Tanner Koziol, linebacker Foye Oluokun, defensive end Josh Hines-Allen, defensive end Travon Walker, linebacker Dennis Gardeck, linebacker Ventrell Miller, linebacker Branson Combs, nose tackle DaVon Hamilton, linebacker Jack Kiser, linebacker Yasir Abdullah, defensive tackle Arik Armstead, defensive tackle Matt Dickerson, cornerback Montaric Brown, cornerback Jourdan Lewis, cornerback Jarrian Jones, safety Antonio Johnson, safety Eric Murray, defensive end Danny Striggow, defensive end B.J. Green Jr., defensive tackle Keivie Rose and defensive tackle Albert Regis.
In case you missed it: Rookie defensive end Wesley Williams recovered a fumbled snap at the Buccaneers 15, setting up a drive that ended with Morrison's pass defensed in the end zone late in the first half. … Jaguars rookie defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr. continued a strong preseason with 2.5 sacks – one in the second quarter, another in the third and a half in the fourth … Linebacker Amari Burney and defensive tackle T.J. Bollers also registered sacks for the Jaguars, with Bollers registering 1.5.
