JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Josh from Atlanta, GA

Regular season, please. That was a brutal watch. We need the time to get healthy, that is for sure. But oof … that was ugly. Too many penalties, too. I hope we focus on that a bit the next two weeks. Any standouts from the press box?

The Jaguars lost to the Carolina Panthers, 34-17, in a 2026 Preseason Week 2 game at EverBank Stadium Friday night – a game in which the Jaguars played very few starters while the Panthers played a lot more starters in the early part of the game. We are not going to spend too much time here in the O-Zone grinding through the game's details for the simple and very pertinent reason that this was a preseason game in which the Jaguars played very few starters. Was it a brutal watch? Sure, at times. Was it ugly? Sure, in parts. There were also some positives for the Jaguars, including backup quarterback Nick Mullens playing better in this game than he did in a Preseason Week 1 victory over the New Orleans Saints. Some young players also continued to show good signs. Those young players include wide receivers Trevor Peña, Josh Cameron and CJ Williams and defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr. Veteran running back Ameer Abdullah also continued to make a serious push to be on the roster. There were other standouts Friday, but those were a few. Remember: Just because there are players in uniforms and officials officiating doesn't make the score important. Breathe. Breathe.

Ethan from Jacksonville

Tell us again why we shouldn't worry. That was ugly.

As I wrote for jaguars.com Friday: The following Jaguars players did not play Friday: Quarterback Trevor Lawrence, running back LeQuint Allen Jr., running back Chris Rodriguez Jr., running back Bhayshul Tuten, wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., wide receiver Parker Washington, wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, tight end Brenton Strange, tight end Nate Boerkircher, offensive lineman Chuma Edoga, offensive lineman Geron Christian Jr., guard Wyatt Milum, guard Patrick Mekari, offensive lineman Timothy McKay, offensive tackle Cole Van Lanen, right tackle Walker Little, center Robert Hainsey, left guard Ezra Cleveland, left tackle Anton Harrison, defensive end Josh Hines-Allen, defensive end Travon Walker, nose tackle DaVon Hamilton, defensive tackle Arik Armstead, defensive tackle Matt Dickerson, defensive tackle Albert Regis, linebacker Foye Oluokun, linebacker Jalen McLeod, linebacker Dennis Gardeck, linebacker Jack Kiser, cornerback Montaric Brown, cornerback Jourdan Lewis, cornerback Jarrian Jones, safety Antonio Johnson and safety Eric Murray. If the Jaguars play the regular season without those players, they probably will be in a little trouble.

George from Savannah, GA

Remember my "preseason extremism" on penalties last week? So … nine in the first half this week. Still "preseason extremism?" I don't understand why it's so hard to call it out. Head Coach Liam Coen is awesome at a lot, but it's too damn many penalties. I guess it will be preseason extremism until your Week 1 recap says "10 penalties for 105 yards," won't it?

Pretty much.

Tony from Johns Creek, GA

O, that was ugly even for a preseason game. On the bright side, the young wide receivers Williams, Cameron and Peña are players.

I expect Williams and Cameron will be on the regular season roster. I expect the Jaguars will want very much to keep Peña as a contributing player – perhaps on the practice squad. The trio has been impressive.

James from Titusville, NJ

Man, what an embarrassment. I can't believe the Jags lost this way in their own building. I wish these games didn't matter until we could at least start our best players. Hold on, wait a minute… <checks rules of season> Never mind, I'm good.

Good eye.

George from Mandarin

Jaguars were cheated. We still had two minutes left. I blame the lightning.

George's got jokes.

Bryan from Tampa

Hi, John. Two questions for you. 1) Who would you guess will lead the Jags in receiving this season? 2) Who would you say is the Jags' biggest AFC south rival? Seems historically was the Tennessee Titans, but recently I dislike the Houston Texans more.

Hi, Bryan! Two answers for you. 1) The leading receiver from this view could be Thomas, Washington or Meyers – and the fact that that answer is difficult is one reason this offense might be the best in franchise history. 2) The Titans may be historically the biggest rival, but you're right that a lot of fans seem to dislike the Texans more these days. The Jaguars and Texans split games last season and finished a game apart in the race for the AFC South. Of such competition are rivalries made.

Adam from Round Here

Zonester. Do you think the preseason games would be more effective and allow for better reps, and be more interesting, if they allowed quarterbacks to wear red jerseys in the preseason games? It would benefit all the teams equally and certainly be better for the fans, while allowing the game to be played with less risk to the league's quarterback stars while getting some more meaningful reps.

I do not believe preseason games would be better if quarterbacks wore red jerseys and therefore were not allowed to be hit. Fans would tire quickly of seeing defensive players rush, then slow down or pull away from the quarterbacks. It also would make the games practice – and as someone who has seen his share of practices, I can tell you they are not as entertaining as one might think. If indeed one thinks such things.

Woody from Dunlap

KOAF: It appears the Jaguars will begin the 2026 regular season with five defensive tackles part of the 53-man roster. Given the positive comments from Jaguars media regarding several of our undrafted free agent defensive tackles (notably T.J. Bollers and Jalen Hunt), is there a high probability that both these young men will be on our practice squad to begin the 2026 season?

Wanting a player on the practice squad and getting them through waivers to get to the practice squad are sometimes two different concepts. I expect the Jaguars will want very much to sign Hunt and Bollers to the practice squad – IF they are not on the active regular-season roster.

JK from NY & Duuuval

Johnny O' - Your explanation of Duuuval was spot on and from the heart. Some could even accuse you of fanning. Duuuval!

I am the king of all funk.

Steve from Hilton Head, SC

John, I have just guaranteed that the Jags will be in the Super Bowl. We just booked a trip to Norway in January to see the Northern Lights. I thought we would miss a lot of playoff games, but the only one is the AFC championship. The off week before the Super Bowl helps my schedule. I'm guessing I can find a way to watch that one game.

Way to go telling us about your cool vacation. I've met guys like you. Boy, have I met guys like you.

Nicholas from Fort Hood, Texas

KOAF: We say Duval since the stadium is in Duval. Why don't the Dallas Cowboys fans chant "Arlington" or the New York Jets and Giants shout "New Jersey?"

I haven't the foggiest ideas why fans of the Cowboys, Jets or Giants do what they do. Why don't they yell those things, specifically? They don't sound as cool. That's one reason.

Jesse from Texas

Who would most likely win the 50-yard dash between Tuten, Hunter and Brian Thomas Jr.?

I would probably go with Tuten here, but I wouldn't tell Thomas or Hunter. Most NFL players who aren't linemen or linebackers believe they're the fastest player on their respective teams – even when facts say otherwise.

Dag from Norway

Hi. I'm a Norwegian going for my first NFL game watching Jaguars at Wembley. After researching, online only, I have chosen Jaguars to be my team and I hope to build up both expectations and loyalty as much as possible before the game. Have you got any tips to really get me on fire in advance, what should I look for? What is so special about your team that it should get even a foreigner's heart ticking?

How to get on fire in advance? Watch as many games as you can and read the O-Zone. The guy who writes it is a rare combination of good looks, wit, knowledge and charm – and there are many Jaguars fans who pinch themselves daily to remind themselves of the good fortune that it is theirs to be able to read him. Daily. And for free!, no less. What's so special about the team? In the interest of not being repetitive, we'll leave the writer out of this and focus on one of the top young head coaches/innovative playcallers in the NFL, a dynamic quarterback and a deep roster that appears to be improving. Enjoy.

Bob from Ole St Aug

John, from are we sure they raised the floor? It doesn't look like it from here.

It's the preseason.