JACKSONVILLE – All healthy players are expected to play Saturday.

That was the Jaguars' news of the day – and of the week – with Head Coach Liam Coen on Thursday saying he plans to play starters against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Saturday’s 2025 preseason opener at EverBank Stadium.

"We will play everyone," Coen said.

Coen, speaking after a comparatively short and light two-hour practice on Day 12 of 2025 Jaguars Training Camp at the Miller Electric Center, said game circumstances will determine how long each player will play.

Coen added that he planned to speak with Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin so the two will have an idea about playing time for starters and backups.

"Everybody's going to play in this game," he said, with veteran cornerback Jourdan Lewis adding, "I think it's a good thing that we go out there and try to showcase it against somebody else."

Jaguars rookie wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter as expected will play both offense and defense, Coen said. The No. 2 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, Hunter is expected to play both sides this season and has alternated between them defense in practice this week after working exclusively on one side or the other in early camp practices.

Coen, after saying early this week he was undecided on playing front-line players Saturday, said he came to the decision after speaking to players such as quarterback Trevor Lawrence and center Robert Hainsey this week.

"A lot of the guys want to play," Coen said. "It's probably the best thing for our team right now."

Coen added of his conversation with Hainsey, a veteran with whom Coen worked while offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season, "He just came up the other day in the weight room and was just, like, 'What are we doing?' I'm like, 'I'm still working on it.' He said, 'We want to play' – Trevor as well and some of the guys, so it'll be good."

Added Coen, "Trevor called me the other night, and we talked about it as well on the ride home a little bit. I appreciate that, and the ability to be honest and have a real conversation. Ultimately, those guys have a pulse so much more for what the locker room is than I do on a daily basis. That's just the reality. So, it was good to hear from those guys."

Coen is entering his first season as the Jaguars' head coach, with he and offensive coordinator Grant Udinski – who will work from the sidelines Saturday as opposed to working from the press box – installing a new offensive system. Defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile also is in his first season with the organization and installing a new system.

"Just kind of everything leans that way, to it probably being the best thing for our team right now," Coen said. "We have moving parts and pieces on the offensive line, new ones, obviously multiple different receivers, quarterback playing in a first-year system – all of that is kind of what points to that."

Coen, too, said that the Jaguars' preseason and training-camp schedule factored into the decision. Whereas some NFL teams hold "joint" practices with opposing teams in weeks leading to multiple preseason games, the Jaguars' lone such practice is Thursday, August 21 with the Miami Dolphins – two days before the teams' Preseason Week 3 game in South Florida.

"If we had three joints and two days of work by each of those joints, then we probably wouldn't be playing [starters Saturday]," Coen said. "That's just kind of where we're at. So, we've got to go and probably take advantage of these opportunities."

Coen said Thursday's practice was somewhat lighter and shorter than practice the two previous days to emulate what NFL teams call a "Fast Friday" during the regular season.

"We had a little bit of an elongated walkthrough," he said. "Good meetings in the morning. Practice wasn't extremely long, but we got some good work in. We went actually a little over what we were supposed to do to get some of these younger guys a little bit more extra work.

"I felt like it was a good little flow. We'll kind of see how the rest of this thing goes over the next few days."

👀 Here's a look at Thursday's practice:

STANDING OUT

• Thursday's practice being among the lighter of '25 camp meant few standout plays, with tight end Brenton Strange catching a long touchdown pass from Lawrence and safety Antonio Johnson intercepting backup quarterback Nick Mullens.
• Hunter practiced on offense and defense for a third consecutive day, working 22 offensive snaps and eight defensive snaps. He caught two passes and was credited by observing media with two dropped passes.

INJURY WATCH

• Wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. returned to practice Thursday after missing Wednesday with an illness.
• Remaining out of practice:
  • Rookie linebacker Jalen McLeod (lower body)
  • Reserve offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen (shoulder)
  • Rookie safety Caleb Ransaw (lower body)
  • Cornerback Montaric Brown (lower leg)
  • Defensive tackle Arik Armstead (back)
  • Second-year defensive tackle Maason Smith remains on the Physically Unable to Perform list to start camp, with his injury undisclosed.