JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser, senior correspondent Brian Sexton and team reporter Kainani Stevens offer quick thoughts on the Jaguars' 31-25 to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 2025 Preseason Week 1 game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville Saturday

John Oehser, Jaguars Senior Writer…

1. Solid start. Jaguars starters played just one series offensively and defensively Saturday – and while Head Coach Liam Coen understandably focused on what must improve from that performance, the thought here was Saturday's game provided one critical reason for hope: The brief, seven-play performance of quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Entering his fifth season as the Jaguars' starter, Lawrence is adapting to a new offense with new verbiage and new footwork/fundamentals. That has been a major offseason storyline, and such change this deep into an NFL career isn't easy. But Lawrence reportedly has adapted well and encouraged coaches with his progress in this area, and during his one series Saturday looked increasingly comfortable in a largely new environment by completing six of seven passes for 43 yards. That series was marked by early and late penalties, and the Jaguars settled for a 41-yard field goal by Cam Little. But Lawrence was accurate, in control and went through his progressions steadily and impressively. That's an important development as Lawrence develops in Coen's scheme.
2. Wow. Little's 70-yard field goal was absolutely Saturday's "wow" moment; while accomplishments in preseason games don't count in the record book, the kick would have been an NFL record – by four yards – had it occurred during the regular season. It also may have on-field ramifications beyond a cool preseason memory. Official or not, the kick showed Jaguars coaches Little is capable of converting whenever the offense nears the 50-yard line. That makes Little a weapon, one a new coaching staff can use. Little said late Saturday night he expects an NFL kicker to make a field goal from more than 70 yards this regular season. Now that Coen and Jaguars coaches have seen it for themselves, here's guessing Little gets a chance to do it for real in the coming months.

Brian Sexton, Senior Correspondent…

1. Ton of fun. I've called many preseason games in 31 NFL seasons. I hardly remember any, let alone called any of them "fun." But Saturday's game was ton of fun at the 'Bank – and it wasn't all the 70-yard field goal. I loved the Jet Sweep for a first down, Lawrence back on the field after the manner he left it in December, Travis Hunter playing both ways and rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten's eight-yard touchdown run that looked like something we've seen in Detroit the last few seasons. Then, of course, there's that incredible field goal from Little. I think everyone wants to have more fun this season around the Jaguars. If Saturday night was any indication, that's exactly what we can expect from Coen and Co.
2. Memorable boot. Seriously, the 70-yard field goal was a first for me, preseason or otherwise. I've seen plenty of mid-60 yard attempts but never anything from that far. Little obviously has a strong leg, but do you know what it takes to take three steps and swing AND put the ball on line to keep it in an eight-yard window? And let's not discount a perfect snap by Ross Matiscik and hold by Logan Cooke. Coen told Bucky Brooks and me in our TV production meeting on Friday that the Jaguars special teams were really special. His words rang true Saturday. It may not count in the record books, but it's a moment in Jaguars history that I'll never forget.

Kainani Stevens, Jaguars Team Reporter/Producer ...

1. A memorable preseason game … sort of. I'll likely remember the first preseason game of the new Jaguars regime for an astounding kick by Little, Hunter's debut and probably not much else. We got to see the Jaguars' starters on offense for very limited reps, but I was pleased to see Lawrence look comfortable in the new system. I was not impressed with the defense as it allowed a touchdown on the Steelers' opening drive. The coverage seemed porous as Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Rudolph found open targets early and often. Hunter played evenly on both sides of the ball with ten snaps on offense and eight on defense. He looked comfortable in both positions, but notably he did not play in back-to-back series during this game. Thankfully, Little gave everyone in the stadium something to cheer for right before the half with a 70-yard field goal as time expired. While preseason stats do not count, I don't think this is the last long attempt we will see from the 21-year-old kicker.
2. A lot to clean up in the next few weeks. Penalties, including one on the first play of the drive, hamstrung the offense early and no doubt frustrated Coen. Since being named the head coach in January, Coen has made it a point of focus to prepare his team to be fundamentally sound. Unfortunately, self-inflicted wounds were a problem Saturday night and many of those penalties came at very inopportune times while the starters were still in the game. Plenty for them to clean up before the real deal starts next month.