MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Senior writer John Oehser examines five key plays in the Jaguars' 14-6 loss to the Miami Dolphins in a 2025 Preseason Week 3 game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday

1. Strong early start. It wasn't so much a particular play or player that defined the Jaguars early Saturday, but two series of plays – with multiple players. This was particularly true of a defense made up of mostly reserves that held what essentially was the Dolphins' first-team offense scoreless on two first-quarter series. Key during this time: Defensive tackle Maason Smith, who is expected to play a key role this season and who was playing for the first time after spending the early part of 2025 Training Camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list.

"It was good to get on the field and work through a couple of hiccups I've been having," said Smith, a second-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. "It felt great to get out there with the guys. Collectively as a unit, going against their ones, I felt like we held our own. We played fast and physical. I think that was on display tonight throughout the whole defense."

2. So powerful, so steady. The Jaguars ruled 36 players out before kickoff Saturday, with multiple players dressing for the game and also not playing, so standout plays understandably were at a minimum. But the Jaguars' specialists were active, which allowed kicker Cam Little to continue an impressive preseason. Little, a second-year veteran, converted a 43-yard field goal with 6:03 remaining in the second quarter Saturday and followed that with a 59-yarder at the end of the second quarter. Little during the 2025 preseason converted seven of seven field goals and three of three extra points, with his field goals coming from 41, 40, 70, 52, 43, 59 and 53 yards. Little's month indeed has been uber-impressive – and not just because his 70-yard field goal at the end of the first half in the preseason opener would have been an NFL record had it been in the regular season.

3. Continuing to impress. The Jaguars' offense – like the defense – played few front-line players Saturday, but make no mistake: There were spirited performances from young players trying to make the roster. One of those performances came from rookie running back Ja'Quinden Jackson, who signed as a collegiate free agent following the 2025 NFL Draft and who impressed at times in '25 Training Camp. Jackson, playing behind exclusively reserves on the offensive line Saturday, caught a 10-yard pass from reserve quarterback John Wolford to help the offense manage a first down on the first drive. Jackson followed that with a 10-yard run on the ensuing drive, with the early plays setting the tone for a game in which Jackson rushed eight times for 47 yards and caught two passes for 13 yards.

4. Saaack(s). The Jaguars' defense, playing mostly players deep on the depth chart, turned in a solid performance early against a Dolphins team playing a starters – including Tagovailoa. After the Jaguars' offense punted on its first possession, the defense parlayed an early Dolphins penalty into a forced punt on the first Miami possession. The Jaguars got the Dolphins into third-and-six early on the possession, when rookie Danny Striggow – a collegiate free agent following the '25 draft who has impressed during 2025 Training Camp – sacked Tagovailoa for a three-yard loss to force a punt. Rookie defensive lineman B.J. Green II sacked Tagovailoa on the ensuing possession to help force another punt. Rookie fourth-round linebacker Jack Kiser also registered a drive-stopping sack that led to a missed field goal late in the second quarter. A strong start defensively considering the circumstances.

5. Wrap it up. The Jaguars' offense, after finding flashes but little consistency much of the game with reserves playing throughout, put together and encouraging drive in the game's waning minutes. They used 15 plays to drive to the Dolphins 30, where they faced third-and-7. Quarterback Seth Henigan, who completed 15 of 21 passes for 77 yards Saturday, threw down the middle to rookie free-agent wide receiver Chandler Brayboy. Dolphins safety John Saunders Jr. intercepted Henigan at the 15, returning it 52 yards to essentially clinch the Dolphins' victory.

"We kicked ourselves in the foot a little too much offensively," Henigan said. "We would have liked to have gotten in the end zone with our group of guys. That didn't happen, which is why we ultimately lost the game. It was a lack of execution right there."