JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Tim from Fernandina Beach, FL
John: Aside from a change of scenery, what is the true value of joint practices? Are they run different from regular practices? Can each coach focus on what their team needs to work on? Are they just going to be a replacement for preseason games? Inquiring minds want to know.
The Jaguars will practice against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Miller Electric Center Wednesday, the second of two "joint" practices against the Buccaneers this week and the Jaguars' fourth "joint" practice of 2026 Training Camp. They practiced against the New Orleans Saints two weeks ago and the Carolina Panthers last week. Joint practices almost always lean heavily into 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 work, with coaches trying to simulate "real" game situations as much as possible while controlling the environment as much as possible to reduce injury risk. Yes, coaches from the teams typically communicate beforehand to try to prioritize areas of focus. They are not so much a replacement for preseason games as an accompaniment, with many head coaches – including Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen – using the joint practices to get starters quality work while using preseason games to develop – and evaluate – younger players.
Fred from Naples, FL
I just hope we are not taking Watson lightly.
The Cleveland Browns on Monday named DeShaun Watson their starting quarterback for Week 1 – and because the Browns and Jaguars play Week 1, this news has caused a decided gurgle of Browns interest here in the O-Zone. But I can't imagine the Jaguars would take anything about that game lightly. Not the Browns overall. Or their starting quarterback. It's the regular-season opener. It's the real stuff. Why would they take it lightly?
Gabe from Washington, DC
With the looming eventual death of the preseason as we know it — perhaps for good reason — any fond preseason memories you care to share?
I seem to have blocked most of them out. I expect I am better for it.
Colin from Fruit Cove, FL
Hey, John. I would like to ask about Jaguars tight end Quintin Morris. Was his extension an early sign of the same thing that the Jags valued in the drafting of tight end Nate Boerkircher? Looking back, it seems like they valued a strong run-blocking tight end and signing Morris was like an insurance policy in case they were not able to draft one. Follow-up: Will he make the 53-man roster?
I expect Morris to be on the Jaguars' 53-player regular season roster if healthy. The Jaguars are planning to play a lot of multiple two- and three-tight end formations this season When you are planning to do that, you need a lot of capable tight ends.
Oscar from Palm Coast, FL
John, I feel that our backup quarterbacks are looking a bit weak. If Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence goes down, we don't have a chance of advancing very far. Do you think we should be searching for other options?
Who ya got?
Tony from Johns Creek, GA
O, I have enjoyed watching the Jags rookie receivers play during preseason. More interesting has been the battle for starting linebacker between Ventrell Miller and Branson Combs. Regardless of who starts, there will be little dropoff.
There was great teeth-gnashing and consternation about this position earlier this offseason. The thought here is that you are correct – and that the combination of Miller and Combs will be just fine at that position.
JAY from THE BURG, FL
In 1927, they began construction on a football field downtown called Fairfield, where local high schools would play. It expanded in the late 1940s and became the Gator Bowl. Then in 1994 the Gator Bowl was demolished and a new stadium was constructed in record time for the new home of the NFL expansion Jacksonville Jaguars. All the while the playing field has remained in this original spot. And will continue to be in this massive new undertaking. I get it. Preseason sucks. But it serves a clear purpose to get ready, to perform to the highest standard on gamedays. Like the president of the Jacksonville Jaguars Mark Lamping spoke to Friday night … the next two seasons will be a monumental unprecedented task for the fans, players and everyone involved in the production of the Jacksonville Jaguars on gamedays. To be ready to show the world how we perform when the whistle blows in Duval County.
The sentimental old man in me likes (at least a little) the fact that what will be the Stadium of the Future shares the same footprint of the old Gator Bowl. I first attended a game there when the Buffalo Bills played the Philadelphia Eagles in a 1973 preseason game a few months after my family moved to Jacksonville. I later attended Gator Bowls – including one in heavy fog with my family, one in brutal cold with a good and dear friend and one I kinda sorta remember with a prominent local attorney and a bunch of our "lubed-up" friends – among others. I later covered Gator Bowl games and Florida-Georgia games, with the last game I watched in the "old Gator Bowl" one in which a University of Florida team I covered won a rain-soaked nailbiter against Georgia in 1993. Like more than a few O-Zone readers, the first one I watched in the "new stadium" came in the 1995 preseason. The Stadium of the Future will be a different beast than that iteration – and a far, far different beast than the one that hosted Lee-Jackson and Stanton-Gilbert back in the day. But is it kind of cool knowing those memories are in there somewhere? No doubt.
Chris from Mandarin
I just saw that the Jaguars are (-7.5) favorites against the Browns in Week 1. I was a little surprised –not that they're favorites, but that the line is that big. When is the last time the Jaguars opened a season as touchdown favorites in the football game?
The Jaguars were a seven-point favorite in 2007 Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans in Jacksonville, a game the Titans won, 13-10. According to my "research," that's the last time they were a seven-point Week 1 favorite. The Jaguars are good and are expected to be good. They will be playing the opener at home. I don't know if they will beat the Browns on September 13, but it's OK for them to be favored.
Bradley from Death Valley, CA
I love the Jags wide receiver room, but I think the non-Lawrence key to the offense is tight end Brenton Strange. We know his ascending value as a multipurpose blocker. How good a pass catcher can he become?
Quite.
Jonathon from Jacksonville
Big O. Here's an interesting question. Since Watson was named starting quarterback for Week 1 for the Browns, could this technically be a "trap game" given our history against him? Especially since we haven't played our starters in preseason games yet. Go Jags!
Watson has a 7-1 career record against the Jaguars – 6-1 as the Houston Texans' starting quarterback and 1-0 as the Browns' starting quarterback. The latest of those games – a September 2024 victory over the Jaguars – is the only one to take place in the last five seasons. The makeup of the Jaguars has changed dramatically enough in that time that Watson's "history" against the Jaguars is as close to meaningless as possible. Either way, it's Week 1 of the regular season. Why would it be a "trap game?"
Robert from Elkton
John, preseason games absolutely matter when your team has a new coaching staff, doesn't have an unquestioned starting quarterback, or is simply a bad team trying to improve. That's normally at least a third of the league every year. When you have an entrenched staff, established quarterback, and quality players and depth, you are just trying to fine tune and stay healthy for the regular season, so those preseason games are viewed as an unnecessary risk. I am SO VERY GLAD we finally have something to risk and can see these games as pointless.
OK.
Iron John from St. Augustine
Time to throw some shade at the NFL Marketing Department ... again. Astonishingly, ALL the new Rivalry uniforms suck ... except for maybe the Green Packers. Way too simple, not enough color, looks like they were all squeezed from the same tube. The print on the pants looks cool closeup, but overall … yawn. Do you think Pregnon is entrenched enough as a starter that he may sit out the last preseason game? Thanks for all you do!
A couple of thoughts here. Regarding the Jaguars' "rivalry" uniform, which were unveiled Tuesday … OK. I guess. Whatever. Regarding Jaguars rookie guard Emmanuel Pregnon … I do not expect he will play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Preseason Week 3 Friday.
Greg from Jacksonville
RIP, Dolly.
If you can't shed a tear when we lose Dolly, I don't know that we have much to discuss. Not on this day, anyway.
